The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
UNLV
Willis and Denny power Softball past UNLV, 6-0
03.13.2007 | Softball
FULLERTON, Calif. -- Senior catcher Megan Willis used a 2-for-4, three-RBI performance to pace the eighth-ranked Texas Softball team to a 6-0 victory over UNLV, Tuesday night at the Titans Sports Complex. The win moved the Longhorns to 21-3 on the year and extended their season-high winning streak to 12 games, while the Rebels fell to 19-12 on the season.
Junior righthander Meagan Denny (13-2) stymied the UNLV offense for much of the night, holding the Rebels scoreless in 7.0 innings of work. The Crowley, Texas native tallied 13 strikeouts and allowed just three hits in her sixth complete game shutout of the season.
Sophomore leftfielder Shannon Thomas got things going for the Longhorns from the start, leading off the first inning with a single, but landing on third after a two-base error by Rebels centerfielder Brittany Freight. Thomas then scored the game's first run on freshman designated player Tallie Thrasher's sacrifice fly to rightfield.
Texas added another tally in the third inning on an RBI single by Willis, before erupting for six runs in the top of the seventh. Thomas drew a leadoff walk to start the final frame and came home when Thrasher reached on a UNLV error.
Willis followed Thrasher with a two-run home run to left centerfield, widening the Texas edge to 5-0. Sophomore rightfielder Kacie Gaskin quickly put the game out of reach when she stepped to the plate after Willis and hammered her sixth homer of the season. Gaskin's roundtripper to straightaway centerfield moved the Texas advantage to 6-0, where it would stand for the remainder of the game.
Rebels' starter Christie Robinson (8-3) suffered the loss for UNLV, surrendering two runs on four hits in 3.0 innings of work.
Willis headlined the Longhorns offense on the night, going 2-for-4, tallying three RBI and blasting her second home run of the season. Gaskin added a pair of hits and two stolen bases, while Thomas registered one hit in two official at-bats and added two runs scored.
Texas returns to action Wednesday, March 14 when it commences play at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif. The Longhorns take on tournament host Cal State Fullerton in game one, with first pitch scheduled for 8 p.m. CT.
