The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Alabama
Softball falls to No. 3 Alabama, 10-1 at NCAA Regional
05.16.2009 | Softball
May 16, 2009
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. -- The Texas Softball team played No. 3 Alabama close for four innings, but a three-hour and twenty-minute rain delay took its toll on the Longhorns as they allowed six runs in the sixth and fell to the Crimson Tide, 10-1 in a run-rule shortened game. The Horns return to action at 11 a.m. on Sunday, May 17 against Mississippi Valley State.
The Longhorns' loss dropped Texas to 39-19 on the season, while Alabama improved to 49-9 and 28-1 on its home field.
Texas sophomore starter Brittany Barnhill (25-14) suffered the loss for the Horns after tossing 5.2 innings, scattering seven hits, allowing seven runs (three earned), walking four and striking out seven. Junior reliever Torrey Schroeder allowed three runs on three hits in relief before junior righthander Erin Tresselt came on to shut the door in the sixth. Alabama starter Kelsi Dunne (25-3) earned the victory for the Crimson Tide, firing 6.0 innings, allowing one run on five hits, walking three and fanning eight.
Alabama put three runs on the board in the first, using two hits, two walks and one UT error in the frame. Centerfielder Brittany Rogers led off with a walk and second baseman Lauren Parker singled to start the inning before Rogers came home on an error by catcher Amy Hooks. An RBI double by Cassie Reilly-Boccia plated Parker and Boccia took home a couple batters later on a double steal.
Texas answered in the bottom of the first, taking advantage of a one-out double by freshman rightfielder Courtney Craig and an RBI single by freshman shortstop Lexy Bennett to close the margin to 3-1.
The Crimson Tide were held scoreless over the next three frames until an RBI single by catcher Ashley Holcombe plated Parker and moved the score to 4-1.
The rain delay postponed the game with one-out in the bottom of the fifth inning. At the time of the delay UT had two runners on, but after the delay the Horns failed to push either runner across.
In the sixth, Alabama sent 11 batters to the plate with Rogers starting the rally when she reached on a throwing error. Rogers stole second and Parker followed with an RBI single. Designated player Charlotte Morgan came through with another RBI single to score Parker before Reilly-Boccia walked and Holcombe hammered a three-run homer to push the tally to 9-1. Schroeder loaded the bases after the homer and when she beaned Rogers with the bases loaded, pinch hitter Jennifer Fenton came home to cap the scoring at 10-1.
Bennett highlighted the Texas offense on the day with a 2-for-3, one-RBI effort.
POST-GAME NOTES
- Texas' loss to Alabama dropped UT's record to 2-2 all-time against UA and 1-1 in NCAA play.
- The loss moved Texas' all-time NCAA Championship record to 25-19
- Desiree Williams' appearance in the game was the 245th game of her career, making her the second-most tenured student-athlete in Texas Athletics history.
