The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Texas A&M
No. 5 Texas A&M narrowly edges Softball, 2-1
04.30.2008 | Softball
COLLEGE STATION, Texas -- The University of Texas Softball team used a complete game, seven-strikeout effort by senior righthander Meagan Denny, but managed just one run as it fell to No. 5 Texas A&M, 2-1, Wednesday night in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown at the Aggie Softball Complex.
Texas' loss dropped the Horns to 25-20-2 on the year and 9-9 in the Big 12. Texas A&M improved to 46-7 and 17-1 in league play and swept the two-game season series with UT, earning the full point in the State Farm Lone Star Showdown standings. The Aggies now lead the 2008 series standings 8.5-to-7.5.
Denny (18-8) went 6.0 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and walking one, while Aggies' starter Megan Gibson (30-1) earned the victory, throwing 7.0 innings, scattering three hits, fanning seven and walking two.
Texas A&M used a pair of singles to put two runners on base in the first, but Denny worked out of the two-out jam, stranding both runners. The Aggies added a third hit in the bottom of the fourth, using a leadoff homer into the centerfield jet stream by senior third baseman Jamie Hinshaw to claim a 1-0 edge.
The Longhorns answered the Aggies' tally in the fifth when junior catcher Kacie Gaskin blasted a solo shot of her own to left centerfield, moving the score to 1-1. Gaskin's home run was her fourth of the season and 17th of her career.
The Aggies rallied for a run in the sixth to take the lead, using back-to-back singles to start the frame and a sacrifice bunt by Erin Glasco to move the runners into scoring position. Shortstop Macie Morrow's sacrifice fly to leftfield scored Hinshaw from third and gave the Aggies the game winning run.
The Longhorns return to action at 5 p.m. on Thursday, May 1 when they host Texas A&M Corpus Christi in a season finale doubleheader at McCombs Field.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Connie Clark
On the team's performance: I thought we had some bright spots, but unfortunately we made some mental mistakes. Our base running mistake in the fourth was costly because we would have scored when Tallie (Thrasher) got a base hit after we had Desiree (Williams) get thrown out. Our mental mistakes were the difference makers tonight because A&M capitalized on our miscues. We had opportunities with Kacie (Gaskin) coming up with the big homer and (Meagan) Denny doing some good things in the circle, but in the end it was the mistakes that hurt us tonight.
On the approach against Megan Gibson: I know our hitters made some adjustments after the first time through the order and after watching film before the game we had an idea of how Gibson was going to go after our hitters. We came out with a game plan and after the first time through the order we moved up on the plate and made some adjustments that helped us take some pitches away from Gibson.
SENIOR PITCHER Meagan Denny
On her performance: I had a few things I would like to change, like the hit-by-pitches. A little part of me didn't feel that bad because I had my control and it was a few change-ups that go away from me and that is what I hit them with every time. I did feel like we had a good battle tonight and we just came up a little short. A&M took advantage of the different opportunities that they had and that is what a good ball club does in those situations. I think the key for us is limiting our mental errors. We are not going to hang our heads tonight. I am very proud of this team and the way we played in a hostile environment.
JUNIOR CATCHER Kacie Gaskin
On facing Megan Gibson: I have played a lot with her growing up and I have caught for her before, which helps me know what she brings to the table. The key for me is going in there and not over-thinking the situation. You have to keep your approach the same regardless of who you are facing, the only advantage that I have is that I have seen her pitches so many times before.
