The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Georgia Tech
Softball swats Yellow Jackets in series sweep
03.22.2006 | Softball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Meagan Denny threw 10 innings of four-hit ball and Tina Boutelle went a combined 4-for-6 with two runs scored and one RBI as the third-ranked Texas softball team swept Georgia Tech, 1-0 and 5-3, in the Horns' last non-conference doubleheader of the season on Wednesday night at McCombs Field.
The Longhorns (33-3) pushed their winning streak to five games and also pushed their season RBI total to 147, surpassing the 2005 season's 64-game total of 143. Georgia Tech (26-8) saw its four-game winning streak snapped with the pair of losses.
Boutelle scored the first game's lone run when she connected for her career-high eighth home run of the season in the sixth inning. Desiree Williams went 2-for-5 and added two RBI in the night cap.
Denny, who started the first game and lasted three scoreless innings, came back and tossed a full seven innings in game two, collecting 12 strikeouts against the Yellow Jackets. Denny and Cat Osterman, who earned the win in the first game, held Georgia Tech, a team that entered the game hitting .333 on the season and averaging 6.8 runs per game, to just five hits.
The Longhorns return to action this weekend when they host No. 17 Nebraska to open Big 12 Conference play. The Horns and Huskers will play a two-game series on Saturday and Sunday, March 25-26, with both day's games beginning at 1 p.m. at McCombs Field.
Game 1: No. 3 Texas 1, Georgia Tech 0
After five and a half scoreless innings, Boutelle gave the Horns a 1-0 lead with her solo shot to right field. Meagan Denny started the game and went three innings before being replaced by Cat Osterman, a pre-planned move by the UT coaches. Denny worked her way out of two early jams, including a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the second inning. She walked the first two batters of the game, but retired the next three hitters to end the first. In the next inning, the lead-off batter reached on catcher's interference, Daisy Paez then singled and Stephanie Butler reached on an error, loading the bases with no outs. However, Denny next drew a weak dribbler to third, allowing the Horns to get Blair Shimandle at the plate. Aileen Morales struck out looking for the second out and Denny got the Horns out of the jam by inducing a weak lineout to first base. Osterman (20-1) got the win in relief, throwing 4.0 innings of one-hit ball, striking out nine without any walks. Georgia Tech's Sarah Wood (9-2) took the loss, throwing a one-run, four-hitter with four strikeouts and two walks.
Game 2: No. 3 Texas 5, Georgia Tech 3
UT posted five runs in the third inning, batting through the order in the frame. The Horns put up three runs with no outs, as Desiree Williams' two-RBI single that plated Crystal Saenz and Boutelle started the rally. After the Yellow Jackets misplayed a routine fly ball in left field, Shannon Thomas came in from second, pushing the score to 3-0. Gaskin had a sacrifice fly that scored Amber Hall, and Brittany Reliford came in on Jacqueline Williams' single. Georgia Tech scored three runs in the next half-inning, cutting the Horns' lead to two runs when Amy Hosier doubled in three runners after the bases were loaded with one out. Denny (13-2) took over from that point on, recording five of the next nine outs with strikeouts. She threw a complete-game three-hitter, allowing three runs with 12 strikeouts and three walks. Lacey Richardson (4-3) took the loss for the Yellow Jackets, tossing four innings and allowing five runs - three earned - on seven hits with two strikeouts and no walks. Whitney Haller threw the final two hitless innings, striking out two.
