The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Oklahoma
Softball completes sweep of No. 6 Oklahoma with 9-7 win
03.29.2009 | Softball
March 29, 2009
AUSTIN, Texas -- The Texas Softball team notched its second straight win over No. 6 Oklahoma, downing the Sooners, 9-7, Sunday afternoon to complete a two-game sweep. Sophomore designated player Brittany Barnhill led the charge for the Longhorns, posting a 4-for-4 performance that included a career-best six RBI. The Horns' victory improved UT to 26-11 on the year and 4-1 in Big 12 play, while the Sooners dropped to 27-10 and 4-2 in league action.
Four Longhorns' hurlers toed the rubber for UT with junior righthander Erin Tresselt (3-2) picking up the win after throwing the final 1.1 innings, allowing no runs on two hits and fanning two. Junior starter Torrey Schroeder lasted 2.1 innings before giving way to senior reliever Desiree Williams who tossed 3.0 innings until Barnhill recorded one out in the sixth. Oklahoma reliever Kirsten Allen (7-6) was saddled with the loss after throwing 1.2 innings and giving up three runs on three hits, while walking two and striking out one.
Texas broke a seven-all tie in the bottom of the sixth, starting the frame with a leadoff walk by sophomore catcher Amy Hooks and setting the table further when freshman third baseman Nadia Taylor was hit by a pitch. Freshman rightfielder Courtney Craig followed with a one-out single through the left side and Barnhill came up with a two-run double that plated Hooks and Taylor and gave UT a two-run edge.
Oklahoma leapt out to an early lead, taking a 1-0 lead after loading the bases in the first. The Sooners used two walks, a wild pitch and an RBI bunt single on a squeeze play by first baseman Samantha Ricketts to push the run across.
The Sooners kept the Horns at bay for the first three frames and pushed its lead to 2-0 in the third, taking advantage of three straight singles and a UT error to extend their lead.
Craig jumpstarted a one-out Texas rally in the fourth, connecting for a double and then coming around to score on Barnhill's RBI single. Junior pinch runner Kori Cook added the Horns' second run when she scored on senior centerfielder Kacie Gaskin's RBI single that tied the game at two.
Texas claimed its first lead in the fifth when it registered five runs on four hits to take a 7-2 edge. Hooks started the frame with a solo home run to left field and four batters later, Barnhill launched a one-out, three-run homer that pushed the lead to four. Senior leftfielder Crystal Saenz followed with a walk, advanced to third on a double by Williams and came home on a passed ball.
The Sooners bounced back in the top of the sixth, sending 11 batters to the plate and knotting the game at seven. Third baseman Dani Dobbs and centerfielder Haley Anderson started the inning with consecutive singles and second baseman Evan Sallis loaded the bases when she reached on a fielder's choice. A sacrifice fly by Flores plated Dobbs and a two-run double by Ricketts pushed two more runs across. Catcher Lindsey Vandever followed with a walk and pinch runner Krystle Huey moved into scoring position on a passed ball on the free pass. Huey came home on a sacrifice fly, cutting the lead to one before a pinch hit RBI single by Jeannie Douglas plated Vandever and tied the game at 7-7.
Hooks and Craig joined Barnhill with multi-hit performances of their own, tallying two and three hits, respectively. Hooks added two runs scored, two walks and an RBI on the afternoon.
Texas returns to action on Wednesday, April 1 when it travels to Texas A&M for the State Farm Lone Star Showdown. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m.
POSTGAME QUOTES
HEAD COACH Connie Clark
On the back-and-forth game: We definitely made it exciting for the fans. It was a great game to watch. Oklahoma is a great ball club and they hit extremely well. I was actually pleased that we were able to do some things defensively and pitching-wise. We were making adjustments offensively and it was just a matter of time for us to get on the board. Good things happened for us today.
On facing Oklahoma starter Allee Allen: We anticipated that we were going to see her today, since they didn't utilize her and bring her in to give us any looks yesterday. Allen started the game and our offense made some great adjustments. Coach (Corrie) Hill had them doing some things in the box, like moving around and trying to keep her from getting too comfortable. We wanted to force her to make some adjustments, which I think was significant after we got through a couple of innings with her.
SOPHOMORE C Amy Hooks
On her home run: I think we've been seeing the ball really well as a whole team. We work really hard in practice and it's really nice when we come out here and see it pay off. You can just tell by the numbers we're putting up right now that the whole team is seeing the ball extremely well.
On her defense today: We talked a little bit about my infield throwing yesterday. We talked about how the OU runners were jumping off the base and getting huge leads. We didn't want to necessarily pick them off, but if we did, that's great, but we just wanted to keep them closer to the base. Our infield came in and told me we have to keep the runners closer to the bases, so that's what we did today.
SOPHOMORE P Brittany Barnhill
On her strong hitting recently: I'm trying to go up to the plate confident and knowing where the place the ball in certain situations. I think confidence is the main thing and staying in the lineup. It's been working well for me lately.
On her perfect hitting performance and six RBI today: It felt really good to be able to do that. I'm just trying to see the ball and put it in play. Right now, things are dropping and happening for me. I'm glad that I could come in and contribute, especially at the end, driving in some runs for our team.
JUNIOR P Erin Tresselt
On coming in and closing the game today: I really tried not to think about it too much and just stay pitch-to-pitch and really breathe and relax. I tried to keep my team in the game by throwing strikes and by relaxing.
On her strikeout with the bases loaded in the sixth inning: I'm just glad we got her out. I don't really go in looking for any of the big strikeouts, I just wanted to get the groundball and end the inning. It was kind of icing on the cake for me to get the strikeout, but I was just trying to keep the ball in play and get them out.
