The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma Christian
No. 3 Softball sweeps Oklahoma Christian, 2-0 and 8-0
02.23.2005 | Softball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Freshman Desiree Williams (Tucson, Ariz.) went 3-for-6, senior Amy Bradford (Lufkin, Texas) made her first appearance in the circle in almost one year and senior Alexis Garcia (Covina, Calif.) went 3-for-4 as the third-ranked Texas softball team swept Oklahoma Christian, 2-0 and 8-0 (5 inn.), on Wednesday night at McCombs Field.
Bradford and Christina Gwyn (Keller, Texas) combined to post the shutout in the first game, while Lizi Sowers (Georgetown, Texas) and Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) repeated the feat in the nightcap. Bradford's appearance was her first since suffering her second torn knee ligament in as many years on April 10, 2004 against Nebraska at McCombs Field.
Texas (7-0) posted its third- and fourth-consecutive shutouts as Oklahoma Christian (4-6) fell to 0-4 against Texas all-time, which were all shutout losses at McCombs Field.
Garcia went 3-for-3 with one run scored in the first game, while Wynter Turner (San Pedro, Calif.) and Gwyn both went 2-for-3 in the victory. In the second game, Chez Sievers (Mission Viejo, Calif.) went 2-for-2 with two runs scored, while Williams went 2-for-3 with two runs scored and one RBI and Jaclyn Daniels hit her first home run of the season in her first at-bat of the year.
"I was so happy to be able to play this evening," Texas head coach Connie Clark said after the doubleheader looked questionable in the morning hours as rain moved through Austin. "To have those five games in Tempe (at the Kajikawa Classic) cancelled and being five games short, we really wanted to be able to get these games in and get some more competition in before we headed out to Palm Springs this weekend.
"We planned to use everyone this evening and get our whole roster into the games. We were so happy to see Amy out there and we were happy to get Christina and Lizi some throws, as well. Oklahoma Christian does a lot of the little things right and they played well tonight," Clark said.
Game One: No. 3 Texas 2, Oklahoma Christian 0
Texas scored both of its runs in the third inning as Garcia led off with a double to right center. After moving to third on a sacrifice, she eventually came home on Williams' infield single. Two batters later, MicKayla Padilla (Cedar Park, Texas) - who reached after being hit by a pitch - came home on Sievers' sacrifice fly. Bradford (1-0) went 4.0 innings to earn the victory as she allowed one hit and struck out five while walking one. Gwyn earned her first save of the year, while OCU's Lindsey Lawson took the loss in the complete game as she allowed two earned runs, 10 hits, struck out two and walked one.
"I thought the highlight of the first game was Amy being able to go after being out so long. We only planned on having her throw three innings, but she was in a groove and doing well, so we left her out there for four innings. Then having Chris come in and throw well was also great," Clark said.
Game Two: No. 3 Texas 8, Oklahoma Christian 0 (5 inn.)
The Longhorns scored five runs in the top of the first inning to grab an early lead. Two throwing errors coupled with an RBI single and a two-run home run off the bat of Daniels resulted in a 5-0 UT lead after one. Two innings later, the Longhorns upped its advantage to 7-0 as they loaded the bases behind three singles from Sievers, Turner and Jacqueline Williams (Arlington, Texas), before Daniels received an RBI walk and Lacy Robinson (Highlands, Texas) hit a sacrifice fly to left field to score two more runs. In the bottom of the seventh, Desiree Williams doubled to start off the inning and proceeded home on a long fly out to right center field from Jacqueline Williams to give Texas the 8-0 win. Combining for the shutout were Sowers - who started the game and tossed 2.0 scoreless innings and allowed only one hit - and Osterman - who picked up her third win of the season by hurling 3.0 hitless frames while striking out seven. OCU's starting pitcher, Courtney Quine incurred the loss for the Lady Eagles.
"I was glad to see we were more aggressive to start the second game. I wouldn't say we were sitting on a two-run lead in the first game, but we weren't really as aggressive as we would have liked. I was happy to see the whole team come out and make the adjustments in the second game and come out swinging, make some smart base running decisions and play smart," Clark said.
Texas returns to action this weekend when they travel to Palm Springs for the second-annual Palm Springs Classic at Big League Dreams. The Longhorns will face No. 1 California and BYU on Friday, Loyola Marymount and No. 25 Long Beach State on Saturday and No. 4 UCLA on Sunday.
