The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Nebraska
Softball sweeps Nebraska with 4-0 victory
03.22.2008 | Softball
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Softball team used a pair of three-hit performances by sophomores Tallie Thrasher and Loryn Johnson and senior righthander Meagan Denny tossed a complete game shutout as the Longhorns knocked off Nebraska, 4-0 Saturday afternoon to finish the Big 12 series sweep.
Texas' victory improved the Horns to 16-11-2 on the year and 2-0 in league play, while the Huskers fell to 13-12 and 0-2 in Big 12 play. Denny (12-4) earned the win for UT, throwing 7.0 innings, scattering four hits and fanning seven en route to notching her fifth complete game shutout of the season. Nebraska starter Alex Hupp (6-5) went the distance for the Cornhuskers, tossing 6.0 innings, surrendering four runs on eight hits and striking out four.
The Longhorns broke a scoreless tie in the third inning, rallying for three hits to claim a 3-0 advantage. Junior catcher Kacie Gaskin recorded a one-out single to start the UT rally and she raced home from second when sophomore shortstop Loryn Johnson singled through the middle. Sophomore designated player Tallie Thrasher followed Johnson, hammering a two-run homer off the scoreboard in straightaway centerfield to put the Horns ahead by three.
Johnson and Thrasher paced the Texas offense on the day, registering a pair of three-for-three, two RBI efforts. Thrasher has now reached base in 11 consecutive plate appearances, tallying six hits and five walks.
Texas tacked on a fourth tally in the bottom of the fifth, when Johnson launched her seventh home run of the year over the leftfield fence to give UT a 4-0 edge.
The Longhorns return to action at 6 p.m. on Thursday, March 27 when they kickoff their three-game road swing with a single game at Texas Tech. Texas then continues its road trip on Saturday, March 29 and Sunday, March 30 at Iowa State.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Connie Clark
On changes the team made coming into conference play: I think we applied some things that we were working on this week in practice and in our game earlier this week against Texas State. Although we didn't get the outcome we wanted against Texas State I think we applied some things we had been working on. Our intensity was consistent, both yesterday and today. Our team is very talented, but they have got to have a consistent intensity and I think we had that today.
On changes in the batting lineup: It is good to have options like that. Coach Hill and I have been talking about it. She works with the hitters and this week she has specifically spent some individual time with them and she just felt like it would be a good move for us to change things up. We have some people that are feeling more confident or less confident in a position where they can do something about it, and it ended up working very well.
Senior pitcher Meagan Denny On her nine straight scoreless innings: It is so exciting for a pitcher to get scoreless innings. I had so much help out there from my team today. They were nothing less than phenomenal on defense. You've got to credit them because I only had seven strikeouts. The offense did wonderful today too.
On the defense making outs: I wasn't mowing them down like I would like to, but you're not going to every time. That is why you have eight other people out there behind you, and it was definitely a team effort today. Coach Clark and I were right on the same page with pitch calling and Kacie [Gaskin] was doing a great job behind the plate. I was hitting my spots today and when we got ground balls the defense did a wonderful job of getting them out.
Sophomore designated player Tallie Thrasher On her offensive hot streak: I'm just seeing the ball really well right now and taking what the pitchers give me. I'm just out there trying to get on base and it happens to be working out really well for me right now.
On her home run today: It was actually a hit and run call, so I was just trying to put the ball in play. I ended up getting a little more pop then I thought I was going to, and I'm glad we got some runs on the board off of it. It was definitely a good boost.
