The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas A&M
Softball falls to Texas A&M
04.27.2005 | Softball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- Laura Durham's two-out, pinch-hit triple drove in the game-winning runs after the two teams traded three-run homers earlier in the game as the fourth-ranked Texas A&M softball team defeated No. 6 Texas, 5-3, in a midweek Big 12 contest in front of the largest-ever crowd of 2,341 at the Aggie Softball Complex.
With the victory, Texas A&M (42-4, 13-2) not only clinched a share of the 2005 Big 12 Conference regular-season title, but the team added another one-half point to its total in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown standings. Texas had earlier clinched the season-long title last weekend at the Big 12 Women's Golf Tournament and now leads, 10.5 to 4.5.
After Megan Gibson's first-inning, three-run homer staked the Aggies to a 3-0 lead, Desiree Williams (Tucson, Ariz.) responded with her own three-run homer to knot the score at 3-3 in the third inning.
Amanda Scarborough (25-1) earned the victory over the Longhorns in the circle, tossing the complete game and allowing three runs on six hits while striking out two and walking four. Scarborough's victory also evened her season record against Texas this season as UT is the only team to defeat her this year.
Cat Osterman (20-6) suffered her second loss in as many outings, surrendering a season-high five runs on seven hits while striking out 11 and walking three. Both pitchers also hit one batter each. On Tuesday night, she took the loss in a 10.0 inning game that went to the international tie break where Texas Tech topped UT, 2-0, after Osterman no-hit the Lady Raiders through 9.2 innings and struck out 24 batters.
The Aggies batted around the order in the first inning, plating three runs, as the 2-3-4-5 batters all had successive hits. In the third inning, MicKayla Padilla (Cedar Park, Texas) led off the inning with hit over the drawn-in infield and then Tina Boutelle (Katy, Texas) put a perfectly placed bunt down that ran for a base hit. Two batters later, Williams took a 3-2, one-out pitch over the left-center fence to knot the game.
After the nine-batter first inning, Osterman retired 12 of the next 14 batters before Scarborough's two-out double in the sixth kissed the left-field line and fell fair. Rocky Spencer then drew a four-pitch walk, setting up Durham's game-winning pinch-hit heroics.
The Longhorns close out the Big 12 portion of their schedule this weekend when they travel to Oklahoma State for a two-game set. The Cowgirls and Horns face off at 2 p.m. on Saturday at OSU's Cowgirl Field, before their 1 p.m. contest on Sunday.
