The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma State
Softball knocks off Oklahoma State at Big 12 Championship, 4-3
05.10.2008 | Softball
OKLAHOMA CITY -- An Oklahoma State miscue in the bottom of the seventh allowed Texas to score and push the game to two extra frames where the fourth-seeded Longhorns rallied for a run to knock off the No. 5 seed Cowgirls, 4-3, Saturday afternoon at the Big 12 Conference Softball Championship. Texas' win moved the Longhorns into the tournament semifinals where it will meet top-seeded Texas A&M at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
The Longhorns win improved UT to 28-20-2 on the year, while Oklahoma State fell to 26-25. Texas senior starter Meagan Denny (20-8) tossed all nine innings for Texas, surrendering three runs on nine hits, walking one and fanning eight. Cowgirls starter Anna Whiddon was lifted in the fifth inning, holding the Horns hitless for 4.2 innings before giving way to Sarah Odom. Odom (8-6) who was saddled with the loss after throwing 4.0 innings of relief, giving up two runs on seven hits and striking out three.
In the bottom of the ninth, sophomore shortstop Loryn Johnson started the Texas rally with a single through the left side. Johnson advanced on sophomore designated player Tallie Thrasher's infield single and both runners moved up on junior second baseman Kelly Melone's sacrifice bunt. Junior catcher Kacie Gaskin followed Melone and successfully placed a sacrifice fly into shallow leftfield, allowing Johnson to score and give UT a 4-3 win.
After a Cowgirls' home run gave OSU the lead in the fifth, Texas rallied to tie the game at three in the seventh, sending the game into extra frames. Sophomore leftfielder Kori Cook singled to shortstop to start the frame and advanced to second on a groundout. Cook then hustled to third on a two-out routine groundball to the pitcher, but a miscue by OSU first baseman Heather Kim allowed Cook to motor around third and plate the game's tying run.
Oklahoma State grabbed an early 2-0 edge in the first, using a leadoff walk and reaching successfully on a fielder's choice sacrifice bunt to start the inning. An RBI single by second baseman Alysia Hamilton plated one run and a squeeze bunt single by designated player Megan Castle gave OSU an early two-run lead.
After going hitless for four innings, Johnson recorded Texas' first hit of the day, smashing a two-run home run down the leftfield line to even the game at two in the fifth. Johnson's homer plated junior first baseman Desiree Williams who reached on a fielder's choice.
The Cowgirls responded to the Horns' fifth-inning rally in the sixth when catcher Ashley Boyd hammered a two-out solo home run to left centerfield, giving OSU a 3-2 advantage.
Johnson, Thrasher and Cook headlined the Texas offense on the afternoon with two hits each, while Oklahoma State's Breana Casaus led the Cowgirls with a two-hit effort.
POSTGAME NOTES
- Texas' win moved the Longhorns to 22-13 all-time in 12 Big 12 Conference Championship appearances.
- The win was the Longhorns' first Big 12 Conference Championship victory since 2005 when UT claimed the championship crown.
- Sophomore shortstop Loryn Johnson's two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth ended Oklahoma State starter Anna Whiddon's no-hit bid. Whiddon carried a no-hitter for 4.2 innings before surrendering Johnson's two-run blast.
- The extra-inning win moved Texas to 3-1 on the year in extra inning contests.
- Sophomore leftfielder Kori Cook has now recorded two hits in each of her last three games.
- Oklahoma State first baseman Heather Kim's error in the bottom of the seventh was her first error in 342 chances this season.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Connie Clark
On the game: It was evident that we have not played in about a week. I think we were a little foggy mentally because we had some fundamental mistakes that we can't make at this time of the year. It was good that we had some luck on our side today because we have been on the other side of that many times this year. We do have to be sharper if we want to win this tournament.
On the tying run that sent the game to extra innings: I think the nice thing was that Kori (Cook) did a nice job of not giving up on the play. Sometimes that is not easy to do and she came from second, rounded third hard and headed home and that turned out to be the difference. You talk about those little things and to not giving up on a play. It gave us a little extra push that we needed to get the team moving in the right direction.
