The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Wichita State
No. 22 Softball falls to Wichita State, 6-2
03.01.2008 | Softball
AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 22 Texas Softball team dropped game two of its Saturday doubleheader at the Texas Classic, falling to Wichita State, 6-2. Texas' loss dropped the Horns to 10-6-1 on the year and 2-2 in the tourney, while the Shockers improved to 10-7 and 2-2 at the Texas Classic.
Longhorns' senior hurler Meagan Denny (8-2) was saddled with the loss after allowing four runs on three hits in 3.1 innings of work. Denny fanned three and walked four before giving way to sophomore Torrey Schroeder who threw 1.2 innings and allowed two runs. Freshman righthander Brittany Barnhill tossed the final 2.0 innings, allowing no runs on no hits and walking two. Wichita State starter Brianna Smet (3-0) earned the victory, going 4.2 innings, allowing just two runs on seven hits.
Texas grabbed 1-0 lead in the second on an RBI double by senior outfielder MicKayla Padilla, but Wichita State evened the tally in the third on an RBI double by leftfielder Katie McGeeney. In the fourth, the Shockers forged ahead, using a three-run homer down Jamie Hull to claim a 4-1 advantage. The blast knocked Denny from the game, but Schroeder walked Lindsie Mitts and a wild pitch allowed her to advance to second.
The Longhorns added one run in the bottom of the fourth, taking advantage of a leadoff single by junior first baseman Kelly Melone and a RBI double by sophomore second baseman Brittany Chalk that closed the margin to 5-2. The Shockers answered in the fifth, moving the lead back to four on an RBI single by Hull that moved the score to 6-2.
Junior rightfielder Kacie Gaskin led the Horns with a team-best two hits.
Texas returns to action at 9 a.m. on Sunday, March 2 when it takes on the loser of the Utah/Wisconsin matchup in the third-place game of the Texas Classic.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Connie Clark
On the offense in game one against Wisconsin: It was tremendous to be able to bring some people in to the game. We're still trying to solidify and find out who the hot bats are going to be in the lineup and who the consistent lineup needs to be based on who is competing and getting it done when we have opportunities. It was great to see [MicKayla] Padilla and [Brittany] Reliford take advantage of those opportunities and step up big for us today.
On the pitching performances of Erin Tresselt and Brittany Barnhill against Wisconsin: I thought it was a good split. That was Erin's first start of the season, obviously, but we want to continue to look at her in that role. I think she was ready and she earned that start after a great week at practice and getting back into the flow mechanically. I thought she had a great outing and those guys offset each other very well. Barnhill finished it out strong and she just continues to get better and better with spotting the ball and mixing up speeds. We need to continue to build on that.
General comment on the loss to Wichita State: The pitching staff can't issue seven walks. If you issue seven walks you are not going to have a very good opportunity to win and I think that was the case tonight. Denny really had some trouble finding a rhythm tonight. It is uncharacteristic of her, especially since she didn't pitch earlier today, but that happens. She'll have to be able to make adjustments and turn it around. I think the big issue was walks. We issued way too many free passes and we were behind in the count a lot and then we had to bring it in. You have to credit Wichita State then for taking advantage of that opportunity.
Senior outfielder MicKayla Padilla On how it felt to hit her first career home run: I was just really, really excited and what made it even better was that my entire family was here from my grandma to my uncle from North Dakota. It was just so awesome to share that experience with them. Not only was it my first career home run here at UT, but the first home run I hit in my life. It was just a great experience and I'll never forget it.
Junior infielder Kelly Melone On her performance and general comment on game one: Right now with my offense, I've just been trying to contribute any way I can, whether that is putting the ball in play and moving the runners or trying to come up with big home runs and doubles. It is just a matter of putting the ball in play for me right now. What helps is that other people on the team are getting on base so that enables us to score some runs. It's not a one person thing, it is the whole team.
On what the team needs to do to turn things around after the loss in game two: Tomorrow is a new day. We just need to come out pumped up. We did struggle a little bit in tonight's game -- we had different people in some different positions and we had too many mental errors. Defensively we're just trying to work ahead of batters right now and play tight defense.
