The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
Softball powers past Texas Tech, 8-2 in Hawaii
03.13.2008 | Softball
HONOLULU -- The University of Texas Softball team connected for nine hits and a pair of home runs and sophomore hurler Torrey Schroeder earned her first victory of the season as the Longhorns downed Texas Tech, 8-2, Thursday afternoon at the Spring Fling Tournament. The Horns return to action at 11 p.m. Central on Thursday night against No. 16 Hawaii.
Texas' victory moved the Longhorns to 12-9-1 on the year, while Texas Tech fell to 6-18. Schroeder (1-0) tossed 3.2 innings in the winning effort for UT, scattering eight hits and allowing two runs. Senior righthander Meagan Denny came on in relief of Schroeder, throwing 3.1 innings of one-hit scoreless relief to earn her second save of the season. Tech starter Alex Watkins (0-2) suffered the loss, going 4.0 innings, allowing four runs on three hits and walking four.
The Longhorns jumped out to an early 3-0 lead in the first taking advantage of a walk and a Tech error to start the frame. Sophomore shortstop Loryn Johnson followed with a two-run double down the leftfield line that scored Desiree Williams and Kacie Gaskin to give UT a 2-0 edge. Johnson plated the Horns' third run, coming home on junior third baseman Crystal Saenz' RBI single.
Texas Tech responded in the bottom of the inning, recording three hits and plating a run on Jennifer Corkin's RBI double to leftfield. The Red Raiders added a second tally the following inning, using three hits, including an RBI single by Devin Zaragoza to narrow Texas' lead to 3-2.
Texas exploded for five more runs in the fifth, taking advantage of a leadoff walk by Williams and a sacrifice bunt by Gaskin to put a runner in scoring position. Sophomore designated player Tallie Thrasher then squibbed an infield single past the Red Raiders' second baseman, scoring Williams to give UT a 4-2 edge. Junior second baseman Kelly Melone followed with a two-run homer to left centerfield to widen the lead to four before a two-run blast by Saenz inflated the Horns' advantage to 8-2.
Thrasher and Saenz headlined Texas' offense with two hits each, while Saenz registered a team-best three RBI. Seven different Longhorns recorded a hit and seven others tallied a run in the victory.
Texas returns to action at 11 p.m. Central on Thursday, March 13 against No. 16 Hawaii.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Connie Clark
On the victory: We had a team meeting last night and we talked about our intensity level and what we need to do in order to have a consistent approach. We believe we have the talent and the heart, but we have to have the same approach with our intensity in every game regardless of who our opponent is that day. I think we did a great job of walking the walk today and putting the intensity in motion. It is important to stay consistent here as we finish out the first third of the season and get ready for conference play.
On Texas' pitching: I was pleased with our pitching performances today. We have talked to the pitchers about being a staff and how each of our four pitchers brings something a little bit different to the table. Each of them is going to be hot at different times and with (Brittany) Barnhill and (Meagan) Denny being strikeout pitchers and Erin (Tresselt) and Torrey (Schroeder) getting groundballs for us, we have several different options. I was happy that Torrey and Denny both got work today, especially with Denny coming in behind Torrey to keep Tech's hitters off-balance. Torrey threw ahead in the count well and Denny did a nice job of working out of some jams under pressure.
