The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma
Willis leads Softball past No. 6 Oklahoma
04.09.2005 | Softball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Megan Willis (Chandler, Ariz.) drove in the game-tying run, including brought in two more on a misplayed fly ball to left-field, as the fourth-ranked Texas softball team defeated sixth-ranked Oklahoma, 4-2, in front of a sell-out crowd of 1,254 at McCombs Field on Saturday afternoon. Chez Sievers (Mission Viejo, Calif.) scored two runs, including the game-winner, going 2-for-2 on the day.
Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) pushed her career record against the Sooners to 6-0 with the complete game in the circle.
Texas (30-5, 5-1 Big 12) moved into a tie for first place in the Big 12 standings with Oklahoma (37-7, 5-1 Big 12) after topping the Sooners for the first time since the 2003 Big 12 Tournament Championship game, which UT won, 1-0. OU won both meetings in 2004 - both in Norman - by 3-2 and 9-6 scores.
Oklahoma jumped right on the Horns in the first inning as Kristin Vesely singled to lead off the game before coming home on an RBI double from Jessica Leslie. The Sooners then tacked on another run as a dribbler from Christina Enea to Osterman turned into a three-base error that scored Leslie from second to make it 2-0 in favor of OU.
Texas immediately responded with two runs of their own in the bottom half of the inning when Rachael Cook (Anna, Texas) reached on an error, moved over to second on a single by Sievers, then came home on Desiree Williams' (Tucson, Ariz.) single that was misplayed by the right fielder. An RBI single from Willis then brought in Sievers and tied the game at 2-2, making it a new ball game.
The score remained deadlocked until the bottom of the third when singles from Sievers and Jacqueline Williams (Arlington, Texas) put runners on first and second, setting up Willis' heroics. OU leftfielder Jessica Leslie caught the ball on a run, but then dropped it, allowing both Sievers and Williams to come home and stake the Longhorns to the 4-2 lead, which they wouldn't relinquish.
In the top of the sixth, OU rallied with two outs as a walk and single from Heather Scaglione and Enea, respectively, followed by a double steal, put runners on second and third, but Osterman was able to strike out Jamie Fox to end the threat.
After Texas went ahead in the third, Osterman cruised in the circle, as she then scattered three hits and struck out eight. For the game, Osterman (17-3) allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out 10 and walking three in the complete game.
Kami Keiter (20-4) took the loss for the Sooners, going 4.0 innings and giving up four runs (two earned) on seven hits with no strikeouts or walks. Nicole Denes entered in relief, no-hitting Texas for 2.0 innings with three strikeouts and no walks.
In the last four games, Willis has batted .636 (7-for-11) while Sievers has connected for hits in her last five at-bats spanning the last two games, going 5-for-5 against both No. 6 Texas A&M and Oklahoma.
Texas continues its two game set with No. 6 Oklahoma on Sunday, April 10 at 1 p.m. Central. The game will be broadcast live by CSTV.
