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Desiree Williams powers No. 4 Softball past UTEP
AUSTIN, Texas -- Desiree Williams (Tucson, Ariz.) went a combined 4-for-5 with her third home run of the week and Amber Hall (Deer Park, Texas) went 3-for-8, aiding the Longhorns' pitchers one-hit the Miners through two-games as the fourth-ranked Texas softball team swept UTEP, 3-0 and 8-0 (6 inn.), to close the team's longest home stand of the season at McCombs Field on Friday night. Cat Osterman (Houston, Texas) no-hit the visitors in the first game, before Meagan Denny (Crowley, Texas) and Amy Bradford (Lufkin, Texas) combined for the one-hitter in the nightcap. Texas (18-3) moved to 11-0 against Texas-based teams this season, while UTEP fell to 9-14 overall in its second varsity season. In the first game, Osterman tossed her second no-hitter in as many outings this week, giving her three on the season and 12 on her career. She struck out 19 batters, tying her own school record for strikeouts in a 7.0 inning game. In the second game, Denny made her first appearance in 11 games, getting the one-inning assignment and striking out all three batters she faced, before Bradford entered to take the win with a 5.0 inning, nine strikeout effort. Also returning for Texas on Friday night was second baseman Chez Sievers (Mission Viejo, Calif.), who had missed the previous 12 games with a lacerated right hand. She went 2-for-5 with two RBI after entering the first game as a pinch hitter and returning to her usual second base position as a starter in the nightcap. UT connected for five extra-base hits on the night, with two doubles and one triple by Rachael Cook (Anna, Texas) in the first game, and a pair of home runs in the second contest. "We've seen a lot of good things from our newcomers lately, and Rachael has been really hot of late," Texas head coach Connie Clark said. "However, tonight it was great to see Chez and Meagan come back after being out so long and for both of them, it was if they didn't skip a beat. They both picked up where they left off. It was hard to take out Meagan, but we wanted to get her some work so she could be 100 percent going into next week." Game 1: No. 4 Texas 3, UTEP 0 Game 2: No. 4 Texas 8, UTEP 0 (6 inn.) The Longhorns hit the road for their annual spring break trip next week, traveling to California for a series of games. UT will take on No. 6 UCLA at the Bruins' Easton Stadium on Tuesday, March 15 at 3 p.m. Central, before playing in the annual Kia Klassic, hosted by Cal State Fullerton, Thursday-Sunday, March 17-20. The Horns will face No.1 Arizona, No. 21 Florida State and No. 25 Long Beach State in pool play before bracket play begins on Saturday.
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