The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
Jacqueline Williams' six RBIs power Softball to sweep over Texas Tech
04.26.2007 | Softball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Behind an 18-hit attack, the No. 18 ranked Texas softball squad swept a doubleheader from Big 12 opponent Texas Tech on Thursday evening at McCombs Field with a six-inning 11-1 victory in the opener and a 6-1 win in the nightcap.
The Longhorns move to 31-16 overall and to 6-9 in Big 12 action with the sweep. Texas Tech drops to 18-25 overall and to 1-11 in the league. With two home games left in regular season play, Texas stands 17-5 at McCombs Field to date.
Leading the offense for Texas was senior first baseman Jacqueline Williams who went three-for-five with a team-high six RBIs in the twinbill. Williams (Arlington, Texas) also scored a run and accounted for four of those RBIs in the first game when she blasted a grand slam home run in the bottom of the first inning.
UT sophomore rightfielder Kacie Gaskin added two hits, including her 11th homer of the season, along with five RBI. Gaskin (College Station, Texas) also scored two runs. Junior MicKayla Padilla (Cedar Park, Texas) went 3-for-4 in the nightcap with an RBI.
"Tonight, we looked very confident out there and had our swagger back," noted UT head coach Connie Clark. "We've been working on building our confidence back over the last week and tonight we put it all together with timely hitting, good pitching and solid defense. I am proud of our effort tonight. This home series is an important stretch for us as we think about the bigger picture of seeding for the Big 12 Tournament and for the postseason. This homestretch is key for us, and we got off to a terrific start."
Texas returns to action on Saturday and Sunday, April 28 and 29, as the Longhorns close out regular season home field action with single games against Big 12 opponent Iowa State.
The Saturday game begins at 1 p.m. CT with the Sunday contest, which is "Texas Senior Day," starting at noon. Prior to Sunday's contest, UT's two senior players -- first baseman Jackie Williams and catcher Megan Willis -- will be honored in pregame ceremonies.
Game #1: No. 18 Texas 11, Texas Tech 1 (6 inn.)
Jacqueline Williams rocketed a 220-foot grand slam home run to left field to highlight a six-run first inning, as the No. 18 ranked Texas softball team posted an 11-1 victory over Big 12 opponent Texas Tech Thursday night in the first game of conference doubleheader play at McCombs Field.
The game was called in the sixth inning due to the NCAA 10-run rule after Kacie Gaskin rocked a three-run walk-off home run 225 feet over the left field fence to score the final three runs of the game.
Gaskin and Williams each drove in four runs in the contest. The homer for Gaskin was her 11th of the year and she moved her RBI total to 29. Gaskin ranks second on the squad in both home runs and RBIs.
Texas jumped on the board with the six-run first inning. UT loaded the bases on a walk, hit batsman and single before scoring the first run with one out when shortstop Loryn Johnson reached on an infield error. Gaskin then drew a bases-loaded walk to score the second run.
Williams then sent a 1-1 pitch over the left field fence for the 6-0 lead. It was Williams' first homer in Big 12 play this season.
"I was really just trying to get something going when I stepped to the plate," noted Williams in speaking about her grand slam in the first inning. "I tried to get a good pitch and make solid contact, and that's what happened. It was a great way to start our homestand. We know we have to pick it up right now and make a final push to get momentum for the Big 12 Tournament."
Texas added two more runs in the second inning via back-to-back RBI doubles by designated player Kori Cook and Johnson. Cook's double to left center scored MicKayla Padilla from second, who had walked and stole second. Johnson double down the left field line plated Cook.
Cook went two-for-two with three runs scored in the contest.
Texas junior righthander Meaghan Denny started the game and picked up the win. Denny, now 19-13, pitched the first 4.1 innings, yielding one earned run while giving up three hits, including a solo homer to catcher Robyn Wike in the top of the fifth. Denny struck out four and walked one.
Freshman righty Erin Tresselt came in for Denny in relief, hurling the final 1.2 innings of hitless ball. She struck out one and walk none.
Taking the loss for Texas Tech was junior starter Sarah Losleben, now 5-10. Losleben pitched the first two innings, and was chased from the circle after giving up eight runs (seven earned) on five hits. Of those five hits, three went for extra bases. She struck out two, walked three and had a hit batsman.
Game #2: No. 18 Texas 6, Texas Tech 1
Texas feshman righthander Erin Tresselt (Missouri City, Texas) scattered eight hits and struck out two in pitching her fifth complete game of the year in the 6-1 win.
Tresselt, now 10-2, allowed just one earned run and walked none as she yielded seven singles and a double in her complete-game effort. She gave up a first-inning run after the first two Tech batters - Ashley Parker and Leah Legler - reached on infield singles and advanced to third and second on a groundout. Parker then came home on a groundout to second base.
After Tech opened with the 1-0 lead, the Longhorns answered with three runs on four hits in the bottom half of the frame.
Texas started the inning with a Shannon Thomas leadoff single to left, followed by a MicKayla Padilla bunt single. Both were moved up by a sacrifice bunt. Tallie Thrasher was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.
Freshman shortstop Loryn Johnson, who drove in two runs in the first game, hit a sacrifice fly to center to score Thomas from third to tie the game at 1-1.
Kacie Gaskin and Jacqueline Williams then hit back-to-back RBI singles to drive in the next two Longhorns runs for the 3-1 edge.
The Longhorns added a fourth run in the third when Williams ripped a two-out double to left field to score pinch runner Kori Cook, who was moved to second on a sacrifice before stealing third.
UT's final two runs came in the sixth. Second baseman Kelly Melone laced a one-out triple down the rightfield line and came home on an RBI single to center by thirdbaseman Crystal Saenz.
Texas added its sixth and final run when Saenz advanced to second on a Thomas single and was plated by Padilla who ripped a single to left.
Absorbing the loss for the Red Raiders was Ashley Jacobs, now 13-14. Jacobs pitched all six innings, giving up five earned runs on 11 hits. She fanned three and walked none.
In addition to Padilla's 3-for-4 performance at the plate, Thomas and Williams delivered key hits for the Horns as well. Thomas went 2-for-4 with a run scored, while Williams was 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
The Longhorns stranded seven in the game, while Texas Tech left eight on base.
