The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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UTEP
Desiree Williams powers No. 4 Softball past UTEP
03.11.2005 | Softball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Desiree Williams (Tucson, Ariz.) went a combined 4-for-5 with her third home run of the week and Amber Hall (Deer Park, Texas) went 3-for-8, aiding the Longhorns' pitchers one-hit the Miners through two-games as the fourth-ranked Texas softball team swept UTEP, 3-0 and 8-0 (6 inn.), to close the team's longest home stand of the season at McCombs Field on Friday night. Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) no-hit the visitors in the first game, before Meagan Denny (Crowley, Texas) and Amy Bradford (Lufkin, Texas) combined for the one-hitter in the nightcap.
Texas (18-3) moved to 11-0 against Texas-based teams this season, while UTEP fell to 9-14 overall in its second varsity season.
In the first game, Osterman tossed her second no-hitter in as many outings this week, giving her three on the season and 12 on her career. She struck out 19 batters, tying her own school record for strikeouts in a 7.0 inning game.
In the second game, Denny made her first appearance in 11 games, getting the one-inning assignment and striking out all three batters she faced, before Bradford entered to take the win with a 5.0 inning, nine strikeout effort.
Also returning for Texas on Friday night was second baseman Chez Sievers (Mission Viejo, Calif.), who had missed the previous 12 games with a lacerated right hand. She went 2-for-5 with two RBI after entering the first game as a pinch hitter and returning to her usual second base position as a starter in the nightcap.
UT connected for five extra-base hits on the night, with two doubles and one triple by Rachael Cook (Anna, Texas) in the first game, and a pair of home runs in the second contest.
"We've seen a lot of good things from our newcomers lately, and Rachael has been really hot of late," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "However, tonight it was great to see Chez and Meagan come back after being out so long and for both of them, it was if they didn't skip a beat. They both picked up where they left off. It was hard to take out Meagan, but we wanted to get her some work so she could be 100 percent going into next week."
Game 1: No. 4 Texas 3, UTEP 0
The Longhorns pushed one run across in the first, fourth and fifth innings, giving Osterman a cushion to toss her third no-hitter of the season and second of the week. In the first inning, Hall came home on a passed ball. In the fourth, Jacqueline Williams (Arlington, Texas) doubled to open the inning and then came home on Sievers' single to left center. One inning later, Cook tripled in Desiree Williams, who had doubled to reach base two batters earlier. Osterman (8-2) cruised in the circle, allowing only two balls to go into play. Her 19 strikeouts were a season high, and gave her 37 for the week in two starts. She also walked one and had another runner get on base after a third-strike wild pitch. It was her seventh shutout and ninth complete game of the season. UTEP's Megan Barber tossed the complete game, allowing three runs (two earned) on eight hits with two strikeout and five walks.
Game 2: No. 4 Texas 8, UTEP 0 (6 inn.)
UT scored runs in four separate innings to take its third run-rule victory of the year. After Sievers scored on a passed ball in the first inning, Alexis Garcia (Covina, Calif.) plated two runs with her second home run of the season, an inside-the-park round-tripper that also scored Melanie Jarrett (Odessa, Texas). Three innings later, Tina Boutelle scored on a throwing error when she tried to steal second base, before Williams' third home run of the week plated two runs, including Sievers. The Longhorns completed the sweep with two more runs in the bottom of the sixth when the Horns loaded the bases and Hall's infield single brought in Jarrett, before Sievers ended the game with an RBI single to score MicKayla Padilla (Cedar Park, Texas.) Denny went 1.0 inning, striking out all three batters she faced, while Bradford (6-0) earned the win with a 5.0 inning, one-hit, nine-strikeout performance. Veronica Flournoy took the loss for UTEP, throwing 5.0 innings, allowing eight runs (seven earned) on five hits while striking out one and walking five. Kandice Henry wasn't credited with any innings of work, but allowed three hits.
The Longhorns hit the road for their annual spring break trip next week, traveling to California for a series of games. UT will take on No. 6 UCLA at the Bruins' Easton Stadium on Tuesday, March 15 at 3 p.m. Central, before playing in the annual Kia Klassic, hosted by Cal State Fullerton, Thursday-Sunday, March 17-20. The Horns will face No.1 Arizona, No. 21 Florida State and No. 25 Long Beach State in pool play before bracket play begins on Saturday.
