The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Michigan
Michigan gets late-inning win over Softball, 2-0
03.17.2006 | Softball
FULLERTON, Calif. -- Tiffany Worthy's two-run home run in the top of the seventh inning broke a 0-0 tie and gave No. 9 Michigan a 2-0 victory over the fourth-ranked Texas softball team on Saturday evening in the final game of pool play at the Judi Garman Classic at the Titan Softball Complex.
Texas (28-3) dipped to 2-1 in pool play in a grouping that included four teams ranked in the national top 14. UT had previously defeated No. 14 Washington (3-0) and No. 10 Louisiana-Lafayette (6-5) to finish with a 2-1 record in the pool. Texas still claimed the top seed in the pool and moved into the championship bracket, where play will begin on Saturday morning.
With the victory, Michigan (12-8) extended its winning streak against the Longhorns to seven games. However, Michigan will be the fourth seed in the pool, and will move in to the consolation bracket after going 1-2 in the preliminary games.
Worthy's homer was just the Wolverines' second hit of the game, and also scored Samantha Findlay, who was hit by a pitch to lead off the seventh.
The loss was Texas starter Cat Osterman's (16-1) of the season. She allowed two runs, both earned, with 13 strikeouts and one walk. Michigan's Jennie Ritter (7-3) earned the win with the shutout, allowing two hits with nine strikeouts and one walk.
Neither team was able to generate much offensively facing two of the finalists for the 2005 National Player of the Year award in Osterman and Ritter. Michigan's Alessandra Giampaolo beat out an infield single in the first inning off Osterman, and UT's Shannon Thomas returned the favor in bottom of the frame.
The first solid hit off either pitcher came from Michigan's Findlay, who sent a hard-hit ball to deep right center. Tina Boutelle tracked the ball down and made the catch while leaning over the outfield fence, robbing Findlay and the Wolverines of a home run. Amber Hall then save another base hit in the fourth inning when she laid out to make a grab of Worthy's shot to shallow right center.
Jacqueline Williams recorded the Horns' other hit when her come-backer kicked off Ritter in the circle, allowing her to beat out the throw to first.
The Longhorns return to action on Saturday, March 18 with a 3:30 p.m. CST game against either Notre Dame or Florida State in the first round of championship bracket play. The Horns will await the outcome of the teams' game - which was halted because of rain in the fourth inning with the Irish up 1-0 - which will be completed at 11 a.m. CST.
