The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
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Williams' 30th career homer paces Softball past North Texas, 5-3
03.19.2009 | Softball
March 19, 2009
Box ScoreAUSTIN, Texas -- Senior first baseman Desiree Williams' 30th career round-tripper paced the Texas Softball team past North Texas, 5-3, Thursday night in its final non-conference tune-up. The Longhorns victory improved UT to 22-10 on the season, while the Mean Green fell to 15-11.
Junior righthander Brittany Barnhill (11-5) earned the victory for UT, tossing her 10th complete game of the season, scattering eight runs, fanning 10 and walking none. North Texas starter Jennifer Smith (6-5) was saddled with the loss after firing the full 6.0 innings, but allowing five runs on seven hits and walking six.
Texas got on the board in the third using a single by freshman shortstop Lexy Bennett to start the rally and a sacrifice bunt to move her into scoring position. An RBI double by freshman third baseman Nadia Taylor scored Bennett and gave the Horns a 1-0 edge.
The Longhorns added to their lead in the fourth, taking advantage of a leadoff walk by Barnhill and a bunt single by senior leftfielder Crystal Saenz to start the frame. Williams stepped to the plate with one out in the inning and hammered her 30th career homer - a three-run shot- to push the UT lead to 4-0.
North Texas answered in the sixth with three runs of its own, closing the margin to 4-3. First baseman Mallory Cantler led off the sixth with a double and moved to third on centerfielder Mariza Martinez' infield single. Mean Green shortstop Sarah Jones then ripped an 0-2 pitch over the leftfield wall, emptying the bases and narrowing the lead to one.
Barnhill helped her own cause in the sixth when she blasted her third home run of the season down the leftfield line to move the UT edge to 5-3.
Texas returns to action on Saturday, March 21 when it kicks off Big 12 play against Missouri in Columbia. First pitch is set for 2 p.m.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Connie Clark
On what Desiree Williams means to the team: It's been tremendous to see her grow up and fight through all of her injuries. To see her have a great year this year just fires me up, because you want that so much for your athletes. She's just stepping up in every department, and she looks great in the circle as well. We're going to continue to work her there. She's a great leader and really helping the young ones out.
On if it is surprising if she is hitting so many home runs: She's just taking her game to the next level. We knew when we saw her several years ago, that she was going to be that next level kind of player. She just brings a lot of different things to the table. She can run bases, steal bases and she surprises a lot of people. She brings it all to the table and she's just a tremendous athlete for us.
SENIOR 1B Desiree Williams On her home run tonight: It's been a while since I've seen a change-up, so it was a good call on their part to call a change-up for me. I've been practicing on getting my hands through the ball, and tonight, I recognized it. I stopped my hands a little bit and then just finished my swing through the rest of it. I think it was just working on getting my hands through the ball, regardless of what pitch it is.
On if she thought she would ever hold the record for home runs: Home runs have never been in the basket for me, honestly. They've come every once and a while, and they have been wonderful. They've always been very timely, but I've never just kept count. They just haven't been a big deal for me. I've always worried about getting on base or doing my job.
On what it means to her to break so many Texas records: It feels great. Just knowing how many great players have come through this program, and to be among them, just feels wonderful. It makes you one of the legit players to have come through this program. It makes you feel good to know you can compete with those kinds of people.
JUNIOR OF Tallie Thrasher On Desiree Williams' home run tonight: She has been great lately. She's hitting the ball really hard and she's getting the results she wants out of it. We're all really happy for her as a team.
