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AUSTIN, Texas -- The No. 3 seed Texas Longhorns exploded for nine runs, including three home runs, and rode a two-hit, 11-strikeout effort by senior lefthander Cat Osterman, en route to a 9-1 six-inning victory over Washington in the deciding game of the 2006 NCAA Super Regionals at Red and Charline McCombs Field. The game was called after six innings due to the NCAA eight-run rule.

Thevictory vaults Texas, now 54-7, into the 2006 Women's College World Series for the fourth time in the program's 10-year history.UT also went to the WCWS in 1998, 2003 and last year (2005). UT's all-time WCWS record is 4-6, and the Longhorns finished third (tied) in 2003 and 2005.

The WCWS runs from June 1-7 in Oklahoma City, Okla., and the eight-team field will be finalized on Sunday (May 28) at the conclusion of Super Regional play.

Texas swept the best two-out-of-three Super Regionals, winning 1-0 Friday (May 26) prior to Saturday's victory. Washington ends its season with a 35-25 mark.

At the plate, the Longhorns were powered by a five-run second inning, highlighted by a two-out, 210-foot grand-slam home run down the right field line by senior centerfielder Tina Boutelle. It was UT's first grand slam of the year and Boutelle's 10th of the season.

Up 5-1, Texas got four more runs in the sixth, when senior second baseman Chez Sievers ripped a three-run home run to left field with one out. It was a 215-foot shot to push UT's lead to 8-1. The next Texas batter, junior catcher Megan Willis, slammed a solo homer to left for the 9-1 edge. It was Sievers' second round-tripper of the campaign and Willis' fourth.

The nine runs by the Longhorns were the most ever by the squad in UT's NCAA Championship history (of 37 games). Texas' three homers also set the school's record for most homers in an NCAA contest.

Boutelle led the UT attack, going three-for-four with a single, double and homer, while driving inthe four runs and scoring two others, and extended her hitting streak to seven games. Willis and senior rightfielder Amber Hall were both 2-for-3 at the plate.

Osterman improved to 37-2 with the victory, and established the Texas single season victories record in the process. On Friday, she had tied her own record of 36 wins, set in 2002. With her 11 strikeouts, Osterman moved to No. 4 in NCAA Division I single season strikeouts as she enters the WCWS with 590, surpassing Tennessee's Monica Abbott who had582 in 2004. Osterman herself has the third-highest season strikeout mark (with 593 in 2005).

The lone Washington run came against Osterman in the fourth and was unearned. Aimee Minor hit a long fly ball to center and Boutelle and leftfielder MicKayla Padilla collided in the process of going for the ball against the fence, with the ball dropping out of Boutelle's glove for an error. Minor moved to third on the error and then came home on a two-out RBI single by Ashlyn Watson.

The run was the first and only scored against Osterman in the 2006 NCAA Championships to date. She had hurled 31.2 scoreless innings before Minor came home.

Taking the loss for Washington was freshman righthander Danielle Lawrie, who pitched the first 2.2 innings after hurling a complete game on Friday night. Lawrie yielded five runs on five hits, walking two and striking out three. The last 3.1 innings were thrown by Husky Caitlin Noble. She gave up four runs - all earned - with five walks and five strikeouts.

Saturday's attendance at McCombs Field was 1,435 (paid attendance) at McCombs Field, and is the third highest single season game attendance mark in UT history. The highest was 1,570, set on April 30th of this year against Oklahoma State in UT's regular season finale.

Texas ended the year with an impressive 32-1 mark at McCombs Field. It was the most victories ever in a single season at home for the Longhorns, with the former record 28 wins set in 2003.

POSTGAME QUOTES
Washington Head Coach Heather Tarr
Her general statement ...
"Obviously, Texas came out ready to attack us.We gave them an out in the first inning, but couldn't get an out in the second inning.They scored early.We didn't help ourselves by giving walks. Whether it was two runs, five runs or one run, I know Texas is comfortable with a one-run lead.They got ahead and scored first.Two of our great seniors ended their careers today, and we are going to miss them."

On facing a pitcher like Cat Osterman...
"Obviously being successful against a pitcher like Cat, who has an ERA of 0.37, is drawing walks and attacking the strikes.That was our plan: attacking the strikes.I thought we were pretty successful with it yesterday.We drew a few walks.But we weren't able to withstand the one run and come back.Today we still maintained a similar game plan.Cat is a different pitcher when she has got a couple of runs behind her.She can throw a little bit more freely.I think we still stayed strong until the last at bat."

Washington freshman pitcher Danielle Lawrie
On whether yesterday's 1-0 loss affected her pitching today...
"I just didn't pitch a good game. It had nothing to do with yesterday, it was just today.You don't really go on what happened the day before. You have to try to bring the same approach every game and it just didn't turn out our way."

Washington junior second baseman Dominique Lastrapes
On adjusting to Cat Osterman's pitching...
"With Cat, you have to adjust what you do because she is such a dominating pitcher.I think we were trying to get the pitches before they were breaking, as opposed to waiting in the back of the box where you might be fooled.I think that was something people were trying to do."

Texas Head Coach Connie Clark
Her general statement on the game....
"First and foremost, I'm proud of our seniors. They've pretty much put us on their shoulders and ran with it last week in Regionals and this week in Super Regionals. We knew that they [Washington] were going to come in and compete exceptionally well. They're a great ballclub, and I think it was a great match-up between two very solid teams. I like our flow this weekend. I thought we did a good job of staying patient. It's good to get it done. Again I'm proud of our seniors, and it's good to see them heading back to the Women's College World Series."

Texas senior centerfielder Tina Boutelle
On her grand slam home run in the second inning - the first grand slam for Texas this year and Boutelle's second in her career...
"Yesterday, I really was waiting for the right pitch, and I just didn't get the feel at the plate. Before my second at-bat today, I was taking some swings in the cage. And, on my second at bat today, the contact was perfect and it just felt right. I am thrilled that I could help us win to get to the Super Regionals in the last game we seniors will ever play here."

Texas senior pitcher Cat Osterman
On pitching for the last time at McCombs Field as a Longhorn...
"I didn't think about that until mid-week, when someone decided to point it out to me. I'm sad, but I have so many great memories at this field and with this program that I really don't think about it that much. Going out in the last inning, it did hit me. I just took a deep breath because I knew it was my last inning on this field. This group of seniors has done such a great job of contributing to the program and raising the bar, but I really didn't think about it too much during the game."

Texas junior catcher Megan Willis
On Osterman's performance today compared to Friday night's 1-0 victory ...
"When she has a lot more help on the offensive side, Cat can go out and throw her game a lot better. She can throw with ease and without worrying about missing a pitch. I think she came out here today and did a great job against a really good team. We were able to give her early support, so she could throw her game. It was impressive that in the second day in a row, in the heat, she still threw what she had."

Texas senior second baseman Chez Sievers
On her three-run home run in the fifth after struggling in NCAA tournament play...
"I've tried not to get frustrated with the outcome of my at-bats since the Big 12 Tournament, because I've been struggling. I just tried to focus on what I had to do in that moment at the plate. I think I came up with a great outcome, and I was happy about it. To be able to help us win this game and get to the World Series again while playing my last game at home with the rest of the seniors was really great."