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AUSTIN, Texas -- The fifth-ranked Texas softball team used a mixture of the long ball and small ball to pull out a two-game doubleheader sweep of Fordham - 1-0 and 5-3 - Friday night at McCombs Field. The Longhorns used Desiree Williams' third home run of the year, coupled with Cat Osterman's third no-hitter of the season, to take the first game, while Tina Boutelle's two-run shot in the second game knotted the score, setting up Shannon Thomas' late-inning heroics.

With the sweep, Texas (10-1) won its seventh and eighth straight games while capping a furious three-day, six-game home stand. Fordham (0-2) took the two losses in its first two games of the 2006 season.

Williams went a combined 1-for-3 in the two games, but tied a school record by drawing three walks in the second game of the set.

Kelly Melone went a combined 2-for-5, while Shannon Thomas had her second two-hit evening in the last four games with a pair of triples in the nightcap.

Krystle Henry had the only multiple-hit effort for the Rams, going 2-for-4 in the second game from the leadoff spot.

Osterman and Denny combined for 25 strikeouts in the doubleheader, as Osterman recorded her third no-hitter of the season and pushed her scoreless streak on the year to 38.0 innings, as no team has scored off her this season. The no-hitter was also the 18th of her career.

Denny tossed her fifth complete game of the season and has allowed either none or one earned run in each appearance this year.

The Longhorns return to action on Tuesday, Feb. 21, when they host UT-San Antonio in a 5 p.m. doubleheader at McCombs Field to close the weeklong, eight-game homestand.

After the doubleheader against the Roadrunners, UT heads to California for the prestigious Palm Springs Classic for five games, capped by a Sunday, Feb. 26, rematch with third-ranked Arizona in a game that will be televised live on ESPNU at 3 p.m. Central. The Wildcats handed the Longhorns their only loss of the season on Feb. 11, when UT fell, 1-0, at the Kajikawa Classic in Tempe, Ariz.

Game 1: Texas 1, Fordham 0
Desiree Williams led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to dead center field, staking the Longhorns to a 1-0 lead. Osterman (6-0) took over, and faced one batter more than the minimum while striking out 17. After a two-out UT error that allowed Megan Waldron to reach, Osterman retired the next 13 batters to close her third no-hitter of the season. Sara Kinney (0-1), a Dripping Spring product, took the loss while allowing one run on three hits while striking out five with no walks. Texas attempted to add a second run in the top of the sixth when Boutelle reached on a lead-off error and advanced to third, but the Horns left her stranded before Osterman closed out the game in the top of the seventh.

Game 2: Texas 5, Fordham 3
Fordham took an early 2-0 lead on a pair of two-out, unearned runs in the third inning when Melone's throw to first sailed high, allowing Megan Waldron and Henry to come around to score. The Rams held the lead until the fifth inning when the Horns knotted up the score on Boutelle's fifth home run of the season - a two-run shot that also brought in Brittany Reliford. UT left two runners stranded in the bottom of the inning, but the Horns tacked on three more unearned runs to take the lead for good. Melone reached on a lead-off error and then made it to second before the Rams could get her out on Crystal Saenz' sacrifice bunt. Thomas' school record second triple of the game brought in both runners and put the Horns ahead. Boutelle then added an insurance run when she dropped a bunt single that plated Thomas. Fordham rallied in the top of the seventh when Waldron led off with a single back up the middle and scored on Katie Davis' fielder's choice. Denny (4-1) earned the win, throwing the complete game while allowing three runs (one earned) on four hits while striking out eight and walking four. Kinney (0-2) took the loss after entering one batter into the fifth and finishing the final 2.0 innings. She allowed four runs on three hits while striking out four and walking two. Rachael Wiggins got the start for the Rams, throwing 4.0 innings of three-hit ball and allowing one earned run with one strikeout and two walks.