The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
California
Third-ranked Softball splits on first day of Palm Springs Classic
02.25.2005 | Softball
CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. -- Freshman Meagan Denny (Crowley, Texas) threw her first career no-hitter - in just her third career appearance - and Tina Boutelle (Katy, Texas) connected for a third-inning RBI double as No. 3 Texas defeated BYU, 1-0, in the team's second game at the Palm Springs Classic at Big League Dreams Park. In the team's first game, UT surrendered just one hit to top-ranked California, but fell, 1-0, to the Bears.
Jacqueline Williams (Arlington, Texas) went 2-for-4 on the night - including a 2-for-3 effort against BYU- while Megan Willis (Chandler, Ariz.) went 2-for-5 on the night and Wynter Turner (San Pedro, Calif.) went 2-for-6.
Texas' (8-1) pitching staff allowed just one hit all evening and struck out a combined 31 batters in two games. Denny had 15 strikeouts in her victory, including nine-straight spanning the first three innings. Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) tossed a one-hitter in the opener against the Bears while striking out 16 and walking none. Denny's no-hitter was the team's second of the season as Osterman already has a perfect game to her credit this year.
With the victory, Cal (9-0) won its third-straight game against Texas, while BYU (8-1) suffered its first defeat of the year.
"I think tonight showed why we think we have one of the best pitching staffs in the country," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "But, we're also still working through some things offensively and trying to find our rhythm in certain situations. We need to do a better job bringing in runners when they on base are waiting to come home. We had those situations in both games and we didn't take advantage of the opportunities. But a lot of that also comes with getting back into playing games and facing good pitching, which is the point of playing in these tournaments.
"I think if you wanted to find one of the best teams nationally to match up with us, Cal would be that team," Clark said. "I would have liked to see us take advantages of the opportunities we had, because when you have pitchers like Cal does, you don't get many opportunities," Clark said.
Game 1: No. 1 California 1, No. 3 Texas 0
Kaleo Eldredge collected the Bears' only hit of the game, but it proved to be enough to give Cal the victory. She doubled to right field to lead off the fifth and then moved to third on a sacrifice before Chelsea Spenser put the Bears up 1-0 when she squeezed her in. Texas had its best chance of the night in the third when the Horns loaded the bases with no outs. Willis led off with a single through the left side, and then MicKayla Padilla (Cedar Park, Texas) followed with a bunt single to put two on board before Boutelle drew a walk to load the bases. But, the next three batters followed with outs as Cal starter Kristina Thorson generated a force out at home and struck out back-to-back batters to end the frame. For the evening, Thorson went for complete game, surrendered three hits while striking out seven and walking one. Osterman (3-1) went the full 7.0 innings for Texas, allowing one hit, striking out 16 and walking none in the loss.
Game 2: No. 3 Texas 1, BYU 0
Boutelle's RBI double in the third inning gave Texas all it needed as Denny cruised in the circle. After Monica Askew (Houston, Texas) reached on a fielding error, Lacy Robinson (Highlands, Texas) stepped in to pinch run, stealing second, setting up Boutelle's RBI. The Longhorns also loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth inning, but a groundout double play and another groundout ended the UT threat. BYU tried to mount a rally in the late innings, both off Denny walks. After walking to lead off the sixth, Jodi Norton stole second then moved to third on a sacrifice bunt, but Denny's12th strikeout of the night stopped the Cougar's attempts and ended the inning. In the bottom of the seventh, Ashlyn Russell walked with two outs, but Denny (3-0) struck out Ianeta Le'i to close the books on her first-career no-hitter. BYU's Summer Tobias took the loss, surrendering six hits and one unearned run - with four strikeouts and one walk - in the full 7.0 innings.
The Longhorns return to action on Saturday when they take on Loyola Marymount and No. 25 Long Beach State.
