The University of Texas at Austin Athletics
University of Texas
Ohio
No. 13 Softball splits on day one at the Tennessee Classic
03.06.2010 | Softball
March 6, 2010
Box Score - Tennessee | Box Score - Ohio
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. -- The No. 13 Texas Softball team split on its first day of the Tennessee Classic, downing Ohio, 11-5 before losing to No. 20 Tennessee, 3-2. The Longhorns' record moved to 16-3 on the year, while Ohio fell to 4-12 and Tennessee improved to 10-4.
Senior righthander Erin Tresselt (4-0) earned the win against Ohio after tossing 5.0 innings, scattering five runs on seven hits and striking out four. Ohio starter Melissa Bonner (1-4) was saddled with the loss after allowing nine runs on 11 hits in 2.1 innings of work.
Texas recorded a season-best 18 hits in its win over Ohio, as senior designated player Tallie Thrasher headlined the Texas offense with three hits and a run scored. Sophomore centerfielder Courtney Craig hammered a grand slam in the win to notch four RBI, while freshman rightfielder Taylor Hoagland went 2-for-4 with two RBI and one run scored.
Freshman righthander Blaire Luna (7-2) suffered the loss against Tennessee, firing 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits, while equaling a career high with 17 strikeouts. Tennessee reliever Cat Hosfield (6-3) earned the victory for the Vols, throwing 1.0 inning of scoreless, no-hit relief.
Senior shortstop Loryn Johnson led the Texas offense against Tennessee with a 2-for-3 effort, while Hoagland provided the only two runs with a two-run home run. Her homer extended Texas' team home run streak to 16 games.
Johnson hit safely in both games of the doubleheader to extend her season-best hitting streak to seven games.
Texas returns to action on Sunday, March 7 when it takes on Illinois State at the Tennessee Classic. First pitch is set for 10 a.m. Central.
Game 1: Texas 11, Ohio 5
Texas got on the board in the first with an RBI single by senior shortstop Loryn Johnson and a two-run homer by junior catcher Amy Hooks to take a quick 3-0 edge. Ohio narrowed the margin to 3-1 in the third when centerfielder Shalene Petrich notched an RBI single that scored rightfielder Paige Kemezis.
The Horns added to their lead in the third, using a leadoff single by Hooks to start the frame and an infield single by senior designated player Tallie Thrasher to put two runners on. An RBI double by Hoagland plated one run and a walk by Shelby Savony loaded the bases. Craig launched a grand slam to left centerfield that pushed the Texas lead to 9-1.
Ohio plated a single tally on a solo homer by Jordan Paden in the fourth, but Texas answered in the bottom of the frame when junior first baseman Shelby Savony roped a solo shot to leftfield to move the score to 10-2.
The Bobcats narrowed the lead in the fifth with a three-run home run by designated player Candace Saucedo that shrank the Horns edge to 10-5. Texas tacked on another run in the fifth on an RBI single by Hoagland the pushed the tally to 11-5.
Game 2: Texas 3, Tennessee 2
Tennessee grabbed an early 2-0 advantage in the second inning, using a leadoff walk by catcher Tiffany Huff and a two-run homer by designated player Lauren Gibson to forge ahead.
Texas evened the game at two apiece in the seventh, taking advantage of a leadoff single by Thrasher and a two-run home run to centerfield by Hoagland.
The Lady Vols pushed the winning tally across in the seventh, receiving a leadoff double by Chavanne Raven to start the frame. A hit-by-pitch and a bunt single loaded the bases before Texas registered its first out of the inning. Raven eventually raced home on a wild pitch to lift Tennessee to a 3-2 win.
