The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Cal State Fullerton
Softball downs Fullerton, 4-1 in Judi Garman opener
03.15.2007 | Softball
FULLERTON, Calif. -- The eighth-ranked Texas Softball team used a complete game five-hit performance by junior righthander Meagan Denny to knock off Cal State Fullerton, 4-1, Wednesday night in it first game of pool play at the Judi Garman Classic. Texas' victory extended its season-high winning streak to 13 games and improved the Longhorns to 22-3 on the year, while the Titans fell to 14-10 this season.
Denny (14-2) tossed her eighth consecutive complete game, surrendering just one run on five hits in 7.0 innings of work, while fanning seven of the 27 Titans she faced.
The Longhorns' offense was held scoreless in the first inning, but a leadoff walk by senior catcher Megan Willis in the second inning set the stage for Texas' first run. Willis advanced to second on a stolen base and an error on the play moved her to third, before coming home on Kori Cook's sacrifice fly.
Texas pushed its lead to four in the third inning, using a one-out ground-rule double by sophomore leftfielder Shannon Thomas to start its rally. Freshman shortstop Loryn Johnson advanced Thomas to third with a single, and Thomas then came home on a Fullerton throwing miscue. Freshman designated player Tallie Thrasher followed Johnson with her 10th home run of the season, slamming a two-run shot well beyond the leftfield wall.
Thrasher's shot moved the Horns' lead to 4-0, but Fullerton would rally in the bottom of the inning to score its only run of the game on a Texas throwing error. Both teams were held scoreless over the final four frames, as the Longhorns clung to their 4-1 lead down the stretch.
Fullerton's starter Candice Baker (8-5) suffered the loss for the Titans after throwing a complete game four hitter and striking out nine Longhorns hitters.
Thomas highlighted the Texas offense on the night, going 2-for-4 with a run scored and a stolen base. Johnson and Thrasher added the Horns' only other hits, with Thrasher delivering two RBI on her third-inning roundtripper.
Texas returns to action Thursday, March 14 when it takes on DePaul in pool play at the Judi Garman Classic. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. CT.
