Kansas junior second baseman Ashley Newman makes a throw to first from her knees after making a diving play on the ball during Kansas' softball game against Texas, Thursday, March 28, 2013 at Arrocha Ballpark.

Texas broke open a close game with three late runs and defeated Kansas University, 5-0, in the Jayhawks’ Big 12 softball opener Thursday at Arrocha Ballpark.

Alicia Pille (7-4) limited Texas to two unearned runs through five innings, but the Longhorns scored twice in the sixth and once in the seventh.

Texas All-American Blaire Luna (16-1) yielded just two KU hits and struck out nine in six innings.

“Overall, Pille had a pretty good start,” KU coach Megan Smith said. “We intentionally walked some people for strategy reasons — and it worked. She just had too many walks to people we shouldn’t have walked, but overall I think she had a strong performance. She handled their best hitters. There were a few slip-ups from her but overall pretty good.”

Senior left fielder Maggie Hull extended her hitting streak to 15 games, and junior center fielder Alex Jones had an infield single for KU’s only hits against Luna and senior reliever Kim Bruins.

“We needed key hits and we didn’t get them,” Smith said. “One swing here or there, it could’ve been a close game early. We just didn’t get those clutch hits. We had a good game plan, didn’t necessarily execute it well and we’re hoping to do that tomorrow. (Luna) was tough today, hats off to her.”

Kansas (21-8, 0-1) and Texas (30-4, 3-0) will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. today at Arrocha Ballpark.

Texas 5, Kansas 0

Texas 010 102 1 — 5 7 1

Kansas 000 000 0 — 0 2 3

W — Blaire Luna (16-1). L — Alicia Pille (7-4).

KU highlights — Alex Jones 1-for-3; Maggie Hull 1-for-3.