The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Delaware State
Softball edges Delaware State, 3-2, at NCAA Houston Regional
05.17.2008 | Softball
HOUSTON -- Texas senior righthander Meagan Denny and freshman starter Brittany Barnhill combine on a three-hitter as the Longhorns dropped Delaware State, 3-2, Saturday afternoon at the NCAA Houston Regional. Texas advances to play No. 24 Washington in an elimination game at 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 17 at Cougar Softball Stadium.
The Longhorns' victory improved the Horns to 29-22-2 on the year and 1-1 in NCAA Regional play, while Delaware State fell to 29-25 and was eliminated from regional competition.
Denny (21-10) earned the win for UT after throwing 3.0 hitless innings and striking out six. Barnhill threw the first four innings for the Longhorns, allowing two runs on three hits and fanning three. Delaware State starter Brittney Ruark (15-12) suffered the loss for the Hornets, tossing a complete game, surrendering three runs on four hits and walking eight.
Texas rallied back from a one run deficit in the sixth, using two hits and a sacrifice fly to plate two runs and take a 3-2 advantage. Barnhill led off the frame with a single down the leftfield line and moved to second on freshman centerfielder Amy Hooks' walk. Barnhill was erased on sophomore leftfielder Kori Cook's sacrifice attempt that ended in a fielder's choice, but a single through the middle by junior third baseman Crystal Saenz allowed Hooks to score from second and knot the game at two. Cook advanced to third on Saenz' single and came home from third on junior first baseman Desiree Williams' sacrifice fly to leftfield, giving UT a 3-2 edge.
The Longhorns claimed an early 1-0 lead in the second when Hooks hammered her third home run of the season to give Texas a one-run edge.
Delaware State rallied for two runs of its own in the fourth, using a leadoff single by catcher Sha Tabor to start the frame and break up Barnhill's no-hit bid. Tabor advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and came home on a two-run home run by Aisha Holloman that put the Hornets ahead, 2-1.
NCAA REGIONAL NOTES
- Texas is making its ninth NCAA Regional appearance in its 12-year softball history.
- The Longhorns' win moves UT to 19-9 all-time in NCAA Regional play.
- Texas has now won at least one game in each of the nine NCAA Regionals that it has played.
- Freshman centerfielder Amy Hooks' solo homer in the second inning was her first round-tripper since Feb. 23, 2008 against Oregon State.
- Junior first baseman Desiree Williams' two walks gave her 35 walks for the season and moved her into sole possession of second place in the UT single-season walk record book. Additionally, Williams owns the top walk mark (39) which she set in 2006 and ranks third on the chart with 33 walks in 2005.
