The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Missouri
Softball falls to No. 13 Missouri, 11-6
03.22.2009 | Softball
March 22, 2009
COLUMBIA, Mo. -- The Texas Softball team surrendered six runs in the first inning, creating what proved to be an insurmountable margin as it fell to No. 13 Missouri, 11-6, Sunday afternoon at University Field. Texas loss dropped the Longhorns to 23-11 on the year and 1-1 in the Big 12, while the Tigers improved to 26-4 and 1-1 in the league.
Texas sophomore righthander Brittany Barnhill (12-6) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs on four hits, walking one and hitting two batters in less than an inning of work. Senior hurler Desiree Williams spelled Barnhill with 3.2 innings of relief, giving up five runs on seven hits before junior Erin Tresselt came on to throw the final 2.1 innings without allowing a run. Missouri starter Jana Hainey was chased from the game after just 1.2 innings in which she allowed five runs on six hits, but Kristin Nottelman (6-0) came on to throw 5.1 innings of three hit relief and earn the victory.
The Longhorns jumped out to an early 1-0 edge in the first when sophomore catcher Amy Hooks hammered her fifth homer of the season to right centerfield.
In the first, Missouri got on the board quick using a leadoff walk by centerfielder Rhea Taylor and a two-run homer by leftfielder Gina Schneider to claim a 2-1 edge. Barnhill hit the next batter before giving up a single to Marla Schweisberger and hitting another batter to load the bases. An RBI single by Lindsey Ubrun plated one run and a two-run single by Julie Silver pushed two more runs across. The Tigers pushed the margin to 6-1 on shortstop Abby Vock's RBI groundout that brought pinch runner Lisa Simmons home.
Texas answered immediately, posting four runs on four hits in the top of the second to narrow the margin to 6-5. Freshman rightfielder Courtney Craig was hit by a pitch to start the frame and she advanced to second on a sacrifice. Senior leftfielder Crystal Saenz doubled home Craig and an RBI double by senior centerfielder Kacie Gaskin plated Saenz. Williams followed Gaskin with a walk and Gaskin came around to score on an RBI single by freshman shortstop Lexy Bennett. Williams plated UT's final run of the inning when she scored on junior second baseman Loryn Johnson's RBI single.
The Tigers responded in the second with a two-out, three-hit rally capped by a three-run home run by Ubrun that stretched Mizzou's lead to 9-5.
Missouri added single tallies in the third and the fourth, but Texas failed to respond until it pushed a run across in the sixth on an RBI double by Johnson that moved the score to 11-6.
Johnson and Bennett headlined the Longhorns' offense on the day with three hits each, while Johnson notched two RBI. Ubrun paced the Tigers with a 3-for-4 effort that included four RBI and two runs scored.
Texas returns to action on Wednesday, March 25 when it hosts a doubleheader with Texas Southern. First pitch of game one is set for 4 p.m.
