AUSTIN, Texas – Timely hitting and a dominant pitching effort by junior Kim Bruins fueled the No. 18/19 University of Texas Softball team to an 8-0 five-inning win against the UTSA Roadrunners on Saturday evening at Red and Charline McCombs Field. With the victory, Texas (4-0) advanced to the championship game of the Texas Classic on Sunday (Noon Central, Longhorn Network).

In her first start of the year, junior Bruins (1-0) tossed a one-hit shutout and struck out two in five innings pitched. It marked her second career shutout and first since she fired a no-hitter against Texas Southern on March 4, 2010. She had a perfect game until the top of the fifth, when Haylee Staton singled to right field with two outs.

Morgan Luksa (0-2) took the loss for the Roadrunners, working 3.0 innings and allowing four runs (three earned) on two hits while walking five.

Texas got on the scoreboard with a pair of runs in the second inning. Taylor Thom started the rally with a one-out walk. Torie Schmidt reached first on a fielding error that advanced Thom to second. After Mandy Ogle walked to load the bases, Karina Scott walked to bring home Thom for the first run of the day. Taylor Hoagland hit a sac fly to right field, plating Schmidt to give the Horns a 2-0 cushion.

The Longhorns added two more runs in the third. Courtney Craig walked with one out, and Nadia Taylor doubled to put both runners into scoring position. Thom grounded out to short, driving in Craig for a 3-0 advantage. Schmidt then hit an RBI single to plate Taylor.

Texas pushed across three runs in the fourth inning. Scott led off the frame with a solo home run, her first of the year and second of her career. Hoagland followed with a double, and Brejae Washington reached based on an error that advanced Hoagland to third. Hoagland then came home on a throwing error by UTSA catcher Molly Fichtner that advanced Washington to third. Bennett’s sac fly to left plated Washington for a 7-0 advantage.

UT ended the game via the run rule when Schmidt, who was at third with two outs, came home on a passed ball.

Texas will face the winner of Saturday evening’s contest between Cal State Fullerton and Colorado State in the championship game of the Texas Classic on Sunday, Feb. 12. First pitch is set for Noon (Central) at McCombs Field, and the game will be televised by Longhorn Network.