The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas Tech
Softball explodes in 10-1 win over Texas Tech
04.17.2008 | Softball
AUSTIN, Texas -- Texas junior first baseman Desiree Williams blasted her school record-tying 21st career home run as the Texas Softball team knocked off Texas Tech, 10-1 in a run-rule shortened game, Thursday night at McCombs Field.
Texas' victory improved the Horns to 23-16-2 and 7-5 in Big 12 Conference play and extended their season-best winning streak to four games. The Red Raiders loss dropped Texas Tech to 15-32 on the year and 3-9 in league play.
Longhorns' senior starter Meagan Denny (16-5) earned the victory for Texas, tossing four no-hit innings before surrendering a pair of singles in the fifth. Denny allowed one unearned run on the night, while walking one and fanning nine. Texas Tech righthander Ashly Jacobs (7-13) was saddled with the loss after giving up four runs on four hits and striking out two.
In the second, the Longhorns broke a scoreless tie, using a two-run double by sophomore leftfielder Kori Cook to score Brittany Chalk and Brittany Barnhill and take a 2-0 lead. Texas racked up four more runs in the third, including a leadoff home run by junior first baseman Desiree Williams. The homer tied her for the top spot in UT's career home run record book with Jodi Reeves.
Sophomore shortstop Loryn Johnson, sophomore designated player Tallie Thrasher and junior second baseman Kelly Melone followed Williams with consecutive hits. Melone's single scored pinchrunner Brittany Reliford and junior catcher Kacie Gaskin's single brought Thrasher home. Sophomore centerfielder Brittany Chalk's RBI groundout plated Gaskin and pushed the UT edge to 6-0.
Gaskin put the game out of reach in the fourth, hammering a grand slam to left centerfield and moving the Texas lead to 10-0. The blast was Gaskin's second dinger of the season and the second grand slam of her career.
Gaskin headlined the Texas offense on the night with two hits, two runs scored and a career-high five RBI. Barnhill added two hits in the win, while Cook recorded a pair of RBI.
Texas returns to action at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 19 when it kicks off a two-game Big 12 series with Missouri at McCombs Field.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Connie Clark
On the performance tonight: That was an all-around good performance. We had great production tonight from the offense. What a great night Kacie Gaskin had. Not only did she have a great night offensively, but she called a great game tonight behind the plate. She made good adjustments as the game went on, and Denny stayed pitch-to-pitch and had a no-hitter going into the fifth. She also reset well when they got a couple hits to shut the door. It was not about getting the shutout, but finishing this game early, and she did a great job with that.
On the hopes of continuing their winning streak this weekend: That would be great. We just talked about it earlier this week. We need to take advantage of being home for five straight games. It is great to be at home, especially during conference, so we need to get on a little bit of a roll. We really haven't had a big streak this year, so it would be really great timing going into this weekend of conference play.
JUNIOR CATCHER Kacie Gaskin
On her grand slam at bat: I was just trying to stay low during the at-bat and really just make good contact on the ball. I knew she was throwing a lot of low stuff, so I wanted to make her throw a pitch that I could hit. She left one pretty fat and I went after it.
On her change back to the five-spot in the order: It is a little bit of an adjustment. You have to think about RBI's and hitting the ball in the grass more. It is a mental adjustment, but it is a good one because it shows trust in me to produce RBI's. It is not a bad place to be either way.
On catching really good pitching performances of late: I've had a lot of fun the past few couple of nights. It really freed us up to have some fun and let them work. The pitchers are really hitting their spots right now and being pitchers, not just throwers. They have really been huge, and we need to give them all the credit.
SENIOR PITCHER Meagan Denny
On her performance: I wasn't going out today saying I'm going to get a perfect game today or I'm going to throw a no-hitter today. I just tried to stay pitch-to-pitch. I was really upset about the walk, but it happens and I just tried to go on to the next pitch. I think I left the ball over the plate a little bit on the first hit, but I have to give all the credit to Robin [Wike] because that pitch was low and outside, she just got a hold of it.
On how she rates the team performance tonight: A+. The energy and enthusiasm were up the entire game. The hits were contagious, and Kacie Gaskin -- wow! That clutch grand slam was absolutely awesome. That got us up even more. The intensity was great from inning one to inning five.
JUNIOR FIRST BASEMAN Desiree Williams
On how it feels to tie the school career home run record: I actually had no idea. I'm not much of a stat person. It's really cool though. I'm not much of a home run hitter, but I guess I need to set it as high as I can for LJ [Loryn Johnson] and Tallie [Thrasher]. I guess it will be cool to look back on in like forty years when I've fallen to fifth or something in the record books.
