The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Northwestern
Softball splits at Kajikawa Classic
02.11.2006 | Softball
TEMPE, Ariz. -- Cat Osterman recorded her second no-hitter in as many outings to earn her 100th career victory as the fourth-ranked Texas team took a 3-0 victory over No. 15 Northwestern on Saturday at the Kajikawa Classic at the Tempe Sports Complex. Earlier in the day, the Longhorns dropped a close 1-0 decision to No. 5 Arizona.
Osterman struck out 17 to record her 17th career no-hitter and second of the 2006 season while extending her Texas record win total.
Chez Sievers recorded two of Texas' five hits on the day -- one in each game -- and added an RBI against Northwestern. Desiree Williams added to her team-leading RBI total of six while plating a run in that game.
In both games, Texas displayed stellar defense with both Williams and Tina Boutelle making game-changing plays, including diving grabs to preserve scores with runners in scoring position.
Texas (3-1) returns to action on Sunday when they face No. 7 Stanford at 10 a.m. at Arizona State's Farrington Stadium.
No. 5 Arizona 1, No. 4 Texas 0
The Wildcats (3-0) got the only run they needed in the top of the first inning when Caitlin Lowe turned a lead-off walk into a 1-0 Arizona lead on Kristie Fox's groundout. UT tried to counter in the bottom of the frame when Williams reached on a fielder's choice and Sievers shot a single up back up the middle to put runners at first and second with two outs, but Arizona pitcher Taryne Mowatt used the first of her three straight strikeouts to end the threat. Boutelle looked to have knotted the score in the third when she sent a shot to straight-away center field, but Lowe made a diving catch over the fence to rob Boutelle of a home run and the Horns of a 1-1 score. Boutelle returned the favor to the Wildcats in the fifth inning when, with no outs and runners on first and second, she made a diving grab in right center to rob Chelsi Mesa of an extra-base hit and keep the runners from advancing. Meagan Denny then took care of the next two outs with back-to-back strikeouts of Calista Balco and Sam Bannister. After Sievers' first-inning hit, Mowatt retired the next 11 batters until Kacie Gaskin beat out an infield single with one out in the fifth. However, the Horns were unable to advance her and she was stranded at first. Mesa appeared to have struck again in the top of the seventh when her towering shot landed on the other side of the right field fence. However, Texas submitted a successful protest of Arizona's line-up card -- it did not have first names listed per NCAA rules -- and the home run was then ruled an out to preserve the score at 1-0. In the bottom of the inning, Mowatt responded by striking out all three Longhorns who came up to bat to end the game. Denny (1-1) took the loss after throwing the complete game while scattering eight hits. She struck out six while walking three in the loss. Mowatt (2-0) threw the two-hitter while striking out 14 and walking one.
No. 4 Texas 3, No. 15 Northwestern 0
Osterman (2-0) earned her first seven outs via strikeout on her way to a season-high total of 17 while facing one more than the minimum. After setting down the Northwestern (2-2) side in the top of the first, she issued a full-count lead-off walk to Kristen Amegin to open the second. However, she caught the next three batters swinging to end the inning and then retired the final 15 batters in order, allowing only one ball out of the infield all afternoon. The Longhorns plated a pair of runs in the third inning, giving Osterman the early lead with which to work. With one out, MicKayla Padilla drew a walk and advanced to second on a passed ball opening up a base for Shannon Thomas, who followed by drawing a walk to put runners at first and second. Boutelle stepped up and dropped a ground-rule double into left field, scoring Padilla, before Williams plated Thomas with a sacrifice fly. Sievers tacked on another run in the bottom of the sixth when her double to the base of the left field fence brought in Williams from first. Northwestern's Eileen Canney (1-1) took the loss while going the distance in the circle. She surrendered three runs -- all earned -- on three hits while striking out seven and walking three.
