The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Arizona State
Cook's eighth-inning RBI lifts Softball over No. 21 Arizona State
03.19.2005 | Softball
FULLERTON, Calif. -- Rachael Cook's (Anna, Texas) one-out groundout brought in Chez Sievers (Mission Viejo, Calif.) from third and broke an eighth-inning 0-0 deadlock as the fifth-ranked Texas softball team defeated No. 21 Arizona State, 1-0, on Saturday night to move into the semifinals of the championship bracket at the Kia Klassic. The game was decided by international tie-break rules after the scoreless regulation seven innings and allowed Texas (23-3) to win its ninth-straight game. Arizona State (25-7) suffered its second loss of the tournament.
Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) earned the win, moving to 11-2 on the season. She scattered two hits - a bunt single in the first inning and a double in the seventh inning - while striking out 21 and walking two. It was her ninth shutout of the season.
With Sievers placed on second to start the eighth inning, Desiree Williams (Tucson, Ariz.) used the first out to sacrifice her over to third. Cook's groundout to short - on a 1-2 pitch - plated Sievers and moved UT into the semifinal round where the team will face the winner of the No. 4 Michigan/DePaul quarterfinal, which took the field immediately after UT/ASU. The semifinal game will be played on Sunday at 12:30 p.m. Central and live stats will be available at TexasSports.com. The championship game will pit the winner of that game against the winner of the No. 1 Arizona/No. 24 Fresno State semifinal at 3 p.m. Central.
Texas jumped right on ASU starter Katie Burkhart in the first inning, stringing together three straight hits to load the bases with no outs but the team was unable to bring anyone home. Williams struck out before Cook hit a liner back to Burkhart who picked off Tina Boutelle (Katy, Texas) at third to end the inning and get out of the jam.
The Longhorns again threatened in the bottom of the sixth, loading the bases with no outs. Sievers beat out an infield hit before Williams reached on a throwing error by Burkhart on a sacrifice attempt, allowing Sievers to move to third. The Sun Devils made a pitching change, bringing Desiree Serrano who intentionally walked Cook to load the bases with no outs. However, no Longhorns were able to cross the plate as Serrano struck out Jacqueline Williams (Arlington, Texas) and Wynter Turner (San Pedro, Calif.) and forced Megan Willis (Chandler, Ariz.) to fly out to right field.
Texas is now 5-2 against other ranked teams this season and has won each of its last five meetings against ranked foes.
