The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Nebraska
No. 4 Softball completes first-ever sweep of Nebraska
04.03.2005 | Softball
LINCOLN, Neb. -- Megan Willis (Chander, Ariz.) went a career-best 3-for-3 and drove in two Texas runs as the fourth-ranked Longhorns topped No. 22 Nebraska, 3-1, to earn the team's first-ever regular-season sweep of the Cornhuskers in program history on Sunday afternoon at Bowlin Stadium.
Willis had a two-out double in the fourth inning and a one-out double in the sixth to plate the game-winning run as Texas (28-5, 3-1 Big 12) defeated Nebraska (21-13, 1-4 Big 12) for the second time in as many days in Lincoln.
Texas had seven hits on the day as Amber Hall (Deer Park, Texas) also had a multiple-hit outing, going 2-for-4 in her second game back from injury. Lizi Sowers (Georgetown, Texas) scored two of Texas' three runs - one as a pinch runner, one as a batter.
Willis connected for her first double of the season, driving in Sowers, and giving Texas a 1-0 lead in the top of the fourth inning. Sowers was running for Jacqueline Williams (Arlington, Texas), who reached second after her pop up to shallow left field was misjudged by both the shortstop and left fielder and dropped in fair.
Nebraska knotted the score in the bottom of the inning when, with two outs, Megan Denny (Crowley, Texas) walked back-to-back Huskers to load the bases and then hit Ashley Porter to drive in KoKo Tacha from third. Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) then entered in relief and struck out Cassie Kleinsmith to end the inning and keep the score tied at 1-1.
UT added the go-ahead run in the sixth when Willis' double to left field bounced off the top of the left-field fence and fell in fair, allowing Sowers to come home from second. In the top of the seventh, Christina Gwyn's (Keller, Texas) fielder's choice with the bases loaded plated Monica Askew (Houston, Texas), who was running for Hall who led off the inning with a single to right field.
Denny surrendered two hits in 3.2 innings in the no decision while striking out two, walking four and hitting two Cornhuskers. Osterman (15-3) took the win, going 3.1 innings and striking out eight of the 10 batters she faced without allowing a hit or a walk.
Ashley DeBuhr took the loss against Texas for the second-consecutive day, falling to 12-11, after surrendering three runs (one earned) on seven hits while striking out five, walking two and hitting one.
Texas had two base runners in each the first and second innings, but DeBuhr struck out the final batter of the inning both times to end the Longhorns' scoring threats.
The Longhorns return to action when they face No. 6 Texas A&M in the first of two State Farm Lone Star Showdown games of the year on Wednesday. The two teams will square off at McCombs Field at 6:30 p.m. and the game will be carried live on Sports Radio 1300 AM The Zone with play-by-play by Craig Way and color commentary by Thomas Lee.
