The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma
No. 8 Oklahoma cruises past Softball, 8-0
04.27.2008 | Softball
NORMAN, Okla. -- The Texas Softball team allowed No. 8 Oklahoma to grab an early seven-run lead for the second straight day as it fell in its second consecutive run-rule defeat to the eighth-ranked Sooners, 8-0, Sunday afternoon at Marita Hynes Field. The back-to-back run-rule losses marked the first time Texas has suffered such defeats since 2002 and the first time it has ever dropped consecutive run-rule contests in Big 12 play.
The Longhorns' loss dropped UT to 25-19-2 on the year and 9-8 in Big 12 Conference play, while Oklahoma improved to 41-11 and 14-2 in league play.
Texas freshman righthander Brittany Barnhill (6-10) suffered the loss for the Horns, surrendering seven runs on five hits, while walking three. Senior hurler Meagan Denny allowed just one run on four hits, walking one and striking out five in 3.1 innings of relief. Oklahoma starter Lauren Eckermann (13-4) tossed a complete game shutout, scattering three hits, walking none and fanning five in 5.0 innings of work.
Oklahoma blew the game open in the first, totaling seven runs on six hits and taking advantage of one Texas error. Centerfielder Krystle Huey and rightfielder Susan Ogden started the inning with back-to-back one-out singles. First baseman Samantha Ricketts followed with a walk before an RBI walk issued to catcher Lindsey Vandever plated Huey. Shortstop Savannah Long's two-run single to centerfield scored Ogden and Ricketts and moved the OU edge to 3-0.
The Sooners added an infield single by designated player Wendy Trott to load the bases and a single by leftfielder Haley Anderson scored Vandever before an Amber Flores RBI walk scored Long and moved the Oklahoma lead to 5-0. Oklahoma tacked on their final two runs on a two-run bloop double by Huey that scored Anderson and Trott to push OU's lead to 7-0.
Oklahoma tacked on another tally in the third, using a leadoff walk by third baseman Jessica Legendre and an RBI single by Ogden to move the tally to 8-0.
Longhorns' freshman leftfielder Amy Hooks highlighted the Texas offense on the day with two hits, including a double in the second inning. Sophomore centerfielder Kori Cook's fifth-inning single was the Horns only other hit. Junior first baseman Desiree Williams' hit-by-pitch in the first inning was the 12th of her career, moving her into a first-place tie with Megan Willis (2004-07) and Jodi Reeves (1997-2000) for most career HBP's in Texas history.
Texas returns to action at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, April 30 when it travels to College Station to take on No. 5 Texas A&M in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown. The game will be televised nationally on ESPNU.
POSTGAME QUOTES
TEXAS HEAD COACH Connie Clark
General statement on the game: We took a game plan into the game, going with (Brittany) Barnhill and we felt like she was going to be the best opportunity for us to make adjustments from yesterday. We wanted to keep the ball down in the zone and mix speeds more effectively and she did a decent job of that, but the Oklahoma hitters are probably the best hitters that we have seen this year. I thought we made some adjustments, but ultimately you have to credit OU for being tremendous hitters. (Meagan) Denny came in with the same game plan and she did a much better job of keeping the ball down and mixing speeds than she did yesterday. After she came in they only hit one ball hard. Oklahoma not only does a good job at the plate, but they got all the breaks today with balls dropping in or getting slow ground balls. The combination of their great hitting and the breaks ended up being deadly for us today.
On Texas' upcoming game with Texas A&M: After the game we talked about how we have been moving in a great direction and the confidence that we had coming into the weekend and even after yesterday's loss. I told the team that we can't get too consumed with this weekend, but instead we need to learn some things and credit the things that OU did well. We do have one more conference game and a non-conference doubleheader that we need to finish out strong before heading into the final third of our season at the Big 12 Tournament. We need to keep our minds right and continue to learn how to get better. It will be important for the coaches to get some one-on-one time with some individuals as studies are finishing up and we have a chance to make adjustments a little more effectively.
