May 10, 2008

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OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla - Fourth-seeded Texas needed nine innings to defeat No. 5 Oklahoma State, 4-3 in Big 12 Championship quarterfinal action at ASA Hall of Fame Stadium Saturday afternoon.

An Oklahoma State miscue in the bottom of the seventh allowed Texas to even the score and push the game to extra frames where the Longhorns rallied for a run to knock off the Cowgirls in the bottom of the ninth. Texas' win moved the Longhorns into the tournament semifinals where it will meet top-seeded Texas A&M at 7 p.m. on Saturday.

Texas senior starter Meagan Denny (20-8) tossed all nine innings for the Longhorns, surrendering three runs on nine hits, walking one and fanning eight. Cowgirls starter Anna Whiddon was lifted in the fifth inning, holding the Horns hitless for 4.2 innings before giving way to Sarah Odom. Odom (8-6) was saddled with the loss after throwing 4.0 innings of relief, giving up two runs on seven hits and striking out three.

In the bottom of the ninth, sophomore shortstop Loryn Johnson started the Texas rally with a single through the left side. Johnson advanced on sophomore designated player Tallie Thrasher's infield single and both runners moved up on junior second baseman Kelly Melone's sacrifice bunt. Junior catcher Kacie Gaskin followed Melone and successfully placed a sacrifice fly into shallow leftfield, allowing Johnson to score and give UT a 4-3 win.

Johnson, Thrasher and Cook headlined the Texas offense on the afternoon with two hits each, while Oklahoma State's Breana Casaus led the Cowgirls with a two-hit effort.