The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Bethune Cookman
Williams puts Softball one win away from College World Series
05.27.2005 | Softball
AUSTIN, Texas -- For the second game in a row, Jacqueline Williams (Arlington, Texas) brought in the game-winning run as she took a two-out, 3-2 pitch through the left side of the infield to plate Wynter Turner (San Pedro, Calif.) to give Texas a 1-0 victory over Bethune-Cookman in the NCAA Austin Super Regional in front of 1,103 at UT McCombs Field. Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) threw a two-hit shutout and struck out 20 batters to keep Texas alive and one victory away from the team's third Women's College World Series appearance in program history.
Texas (46-11) collected seven hits, led by Tina Boutelle's (Katy, Texas) 2-for-4 effort, while the Wildcats (49-18) were two-hit by Osterman and must now defeat the Longhorns twice on Saturday to earn a bid to the WCWS.
Osterman (28-6) tossed her 20th shutout of the season to take the victory, allowing two hits and pushing her scoreless streak to 50.1 innings spanning nine games. She has not allowed a run in the postseason (seven appearances).
With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Turner beat out an infield single and then moved to second when Amber Hall (Deer Park, Texas) was hit by a pitch. After a double steal to push the runners to second and third, Williams battled in her at-bat, drawing a full count before connecting for the game-winning hit, her sixth of the season. It was the second game in a row in which she brought in the game-winning run, as she also had the game-winning two-run double against Mississippi State on May 22 to push Texas into the Super Regionals.
After a two-out single that snuck through the infield in the first inning, Bethune-Cookman saw the next 21 batters retired by Osterman and the Longhorns, 15 via strikeout. Megan McGuire beat out a two-out infield single in the eighth inning to give the Wildcats their first runner in seven innings, but Osterman struck out Sarde Stewart to end the inning and send the game to the ninth frame.
Texas had base runners in every inning but one - the third - and left six runners on base before Williams ended the game.
Lauren McCoy (20-13) took the loss after allowing one run on seven hits while striking out five and walking one in the 8.2 inning effort.
The two teams will meet again on Saturday, May 28, in a 2 p.m. game. If Texas wins, they will advance to the Women's College World Series, June 2-8, in Oklahoma City. If Bethune-Cookman wins that game, a third game in the series will begin 30 minutes after the conclusion of the 2 p.m. game - at approximately - 4:30 p.m. with a spot in the WCWS at stake. Both games will be televised live on ESPNU (DirecTV channel 609).
POSTGAME QUOTES
Bethune-Cookman Head Coach Laura Watten
Overall impressions of the matchup against Texas: Well, Cat (Osterman) is Cat, and that's why she is on the Olympic Team. We know that their offense is aggressive and they put a lot of pressure on our defense throughout the game. I am disappointed that we didn't execute well. I wish we had made quicker adjustments. We made adjustments to be more patient and wait for her (Osterman) to make a mistake. We will take a lot of things from this game into tomorrow afternoon. Lauren McCoy has led us this far on the mound, and she is going to continue to lead us. We are hopefully going to keep riding her until we cannot. I have a lot of confidence in her.
Senior pitcher Lauren McCoy
On her performance and on Jacqueline Williams' game-winning hit: I do not have a lot of glitz and glamour to my game. I like to rely on my defense to get the job done. It was exciting to play here, because the fans are definitely into their team. The way they (UT fans) support their team here is great. Against Williams, we mixed up our pitches all day. She was very patient at the plate, and took a good swing and put it into play for the winning hit.
Texas Head Coach Connie Clark
On the game in general: We need Bethune-Cookman was going to come ready to play with a lot of passion, which they did. Credit them and McCoy especially with a great performance. We would have liked to have gotten our offense going sooner, but Cat (Osterman) kept us in the game until we could get a run.
On facing Lauren McCoy: I thought McCoy was definitely in a rhythm so we had to keep taking the game one pitch at a time. Tonight, we didn't make adjustments early enough, and I think we were pressing a little more than we would have liked. McCoy kept us honest most of the night.
Junior pitcher Cat Osterman
On her performance and on playing and pitching extra innings: It doesn't matter how many innings we play. I am going to go out there and pitch my game, no matter how long the game lasts. Give them credit. They put the bat on the ball and Megan (Willis, UT's catcher) and I had to make some adjustments. Adjustments are the name of the game.
Sophomore designated player Jacqueline Williams
"I pressed a little on my second and third at bats, but in the ninth I went out there and relaxed and got a hit. I was really tying to keep my weight back and I was able to find a decent pitch to hit."
