The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
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Kansas
Softball splits doubleheader with Kansas
04.13.2008 | Softball
LAWRENCE, Kan. -- After falling 8-1 in game one the Texas Softball team rallied to knock off Kansas, 2-1 in the second game of the Big 12 Conference doubleheader, Sunday afternoon at Arrocha Ballpark. Sophomore designated player Tallie Thrasher paced the Longhorns in game two with a home run, a double while scoring both of UT's runs
The series split moved Texas to 20-16-2 on the year and 6-5 in the Big 12, while the Jayhawks fell to 30-11 and 4-4 in league play.
Longhorns' senior righthander Meagan Denny (14-5) earned the victory in game two, tossing her 12th complete game of the year, scattering four hits, allowing one run and fanning 11. Jayhawks' starter Sarah Vertelka (9-5) was saddled with the loss, surrendering two runs on six hits in 6.0 innings of work.
In game one, Texas freshman starter Brittany Barnhill (5-9) suffered the loss, surrendering two runs on three hits in 4.0 innings of work. Longhorns' reliever Erin Tresselt came on in relief of Barnhill, allowing five runs on three hits in 0.2 innings before giving way to Denny. Kansas starter Valerie George (16-3) earned the complete game victory, scattering four hits over 7.0 innings, while allowing just one run.
Sophomore shortstop Loryn Johnson's single in the first inning of game one extended her team-best hitting streak to 11 games. Johnson went hitless in three plate appearances in game two, snapping her career-high hitting streak.
Texas returns to action when it hosts Sam Houston State in a doubleheader at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 16.
Game One: Texas 1, Kansas 8
The Jayhawks jumped out to a quick 1-0 edge in the first when Stevie Crisosto led off with a double, advanced to third on a sacrifice and scored on a wild pitch. Kansas added a second tally in the fourth, using a sacrifice fly by Brittany Hile to score third baseman Val Chapple and put KU ahead, 2-0.
Kansas blew the game open in the fifth, racking up five runs on three hits and three walks, pushing its lead to 7-0. The Jayhawks sent nine batters to the plate in the frame, using a bases loaded walk by Amanda Jobe to start the rally. Chapple added a two-run single and a sacrifice fly by Liz Kocon scored Jobe from third. The Jayhawks tallied their final run when Hile stole second following a walk and Chaplle swiped home.
The Longhorns responded in the sixth, scoring their lone run when junior second baseman Kelly Melone notched a leadoff walk advanced on a double by junior catcher Kacie Gaskin and score on Barnhill's RBI groundout.
The Jayhawks registered their final run in the sixth, taking advantage of a walk and a Texas error to push the final tally to 8-1.
Game Two: Texas 2, Kansas 1
Kansas grabbed an early one-run advantage in the first, using a one-out single and three stolen bases by centerfielder Dougie McCaulley to take a 1-0 lead. The Longhorns responded with a run of their own in the fourth when Thrasher blasted her eighth home run of the year over the left centerfield wall, evening the tally at one.
Texas claimed its first lead of the day in the top of the sixth, taking advantage of a leadoff double by Thrasher to start the rally. Thrasher advanced to third on Melone's sacrifice bunt, before coming home when Gaskin reached on an error.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Connie Clark
On the split: It was the tale of two games. We were not very good in the first game and we were much better in game two. I thought we got tremendous leadership from Meagan Denny in between games and that is something that is very important for our team. She got everyone together and did a great job of getting things turned around for the second game. Our mental focus was much better in game two.
On the play of Tallie Thrasher: I thought we turned things around and had a good mindset in game two. We made some good adjustments and Tallie Thrasher came up big for us offensively. When she hit the homer to tie up the game and finally get us on the board there was a momentum change. You felt the momentum swing to our side and we took control from that point on.
On what the win means heading into a four-game homestand next week: We need to continue to plug away. We have a pair of non-conference games against Sam Houston on Wednesday and those games are very significant in-region games. We have to get wins in those games to be able to progress and do the things that we want to do in our region. Hopefully we can build on the second game today and take that home for our four games this coming week.
