The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Baylor
Softball rolls past Baylor, 6-0
04.23.2008 | Softball
WACO, Texas -- The University of Texas Softball team used a four-hit, six-run fifth inning and complete game shutout effort by senior hurler Meagan Denny to roll past Baylor, 6-0, Wednesday night at Getterman Stadium. Texas' win gave the Longhorns a season series split with the Bears and improved UT to 25-17-2 on the year and 9-6 in Big 12 play. The loss dropped Baylor to 22-18 and 4-10 in league action.
Denny (18-6) registered her 17th complete game and seventh shutout of the season, tossing 7.0 innings, scattering eight hits, walking one and fanning five. Baylor starter Kirsten Shortridge (5-8) was saddled with the loss after surrendering six runs on six hits, striking out five and walking four in 4.2 innings of work.
After four innings of scoreless play, Texas blew the game open in the fifth, sending 12 batters to the plate and scoring six runs. Sophomore leftfielder Kori Cook started the rally with a one-out single to rightfield, but the Horns did most of their damage with two outs. Cook stole second and advanced to third on a passed ball before coming around to score junior first baseman Desiree Williams' RBI single. Sophomore shortstop Loryn Johnson singled to move Williams to third and an intentional walk of sophomore designated player Tallie Thrasher loaded the bases.
Junior second baseman Kelly Melone's bases loaded RBI single scored Williams, before a Baylor error on junior catcher Kacie Gaskin's ground ball plated Thrasher and Johnson to give UT a 4-0 edge. Freshman rightfielder Brittany Barnhill drew a walk to reload the bases for sophomore centerfielder Brittany Chalk who plated Melone when she reached on a Bears' miscue. A bases loaded RBI walk to Cook brought Gaskin home and capped the Longhorns' six-run fifth inning rally.
Williams and Johnson headlined the Texas offense on the night with two hits each, with Williams tallying a walk, a run scored and an RBI.
Texas returns to action at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 26 when it travels to Norman to take on Oklahoma in a two-game Big 12 Conference series.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Connie Clark
On the victory: The timing of this win is tremendous. The outcome of the Baylor game was very significant for what we want to do down the stretch. This was a big win and we had a great team effort to get this victory on the road. We had a lot of production from a lot of different people and that is what it takes to win this time of year.
On Meagan Denny's outing: I thought Meagan Denny and Kacie (Gaskin) did a great job tonight working together and making adjustments during the game. She really trusted her defense tonight. The defense played very well and Denny got Baylor to hit the ball on the ground and we were set up in defensive shifts to play those balls accordingly. In the last week and a half she has been a pitcher rather than a thrower and when she does that she is awfully tough to beat.
On Texas' offensive effort: I know coach (Corrie) Hill talked to the team afterwards and the biggest focus that they have right now is making adjustments as the game goes on. The second time through the order it was exciting to see us make adjustments and understand how it important it is to make adjustments in your second at-bat.
SENIOR PITCHER Meagan Denny
On her pitching performance: I felt really good out there tonight. It was definitely a battle as the Baylor hitters came out swinging the bat really hard. They made some really good contact on the ball, but my defense did an outstanding job of making plays. The defense was nothing short of perfect and that is what gave us the shutout tonight.
On keeping Baylor's hitters off-balance: My bread and butter pitchers were working well tonight and I was able to work the corners of the plate to get some key outs. In about the fifth inning, Kacie (Gaskin) and I began throwing more riseballs at the beginning of the count and I feel like that made a difference and made the Baylor hitters think a little bit more.
On the run support she received: All of that run support is huge. It is kind of like taking a great big fresh breath of air when you get a big lead. You can't relax in that situation, but you do not have as much pressure on you when you are out in the circle with a lead.
