UW Softball: Texas' Cat sets down Dawgs

AUSTIN, Texas — When facing Texas All-American Cat Osterman, scoring chances are few and far between. If you're going to beat Osterman — and only two teams have this year — those rare opportunities to dent the scoreboard have to be seized.

No. 14 Washington had its chances in Friday's Super Regional opener. The window was cracked — but the Huskies couldn't open it all the way.

No. 3 Texas got an RBI single from Shannon Thomas in the fifth inning to provide Osterman the only run she needed in a 1-0 victory that puts the Huskies one game from elimination. The Super Regional's second game is today at 1 p.m.

Should UW win, a third and deciding game will be played at 6 p.m.

Washington freshman Danielle Lawrie (23-15) battled Osterman on even terms until the fifth inning.

With one out, Texas' Jacqueline Williams took an 0-2 pitch to the opposite field for the Longhorns' second hit. After moving to second on a ground out, the ninth hitter in the order came to the plate. Thomas promptly sent Lawrie's pitch back through the middle. Center fielder Aimee Minor came up throwing, but Williams beat the ball.

"When I was up there, I wasn't really thinking about anything but see ball, hit ball," Thomas said. "I don't remember all the hits [I've had], but this one was pretty big."

Osterman (36-2) and her 0.38 earned-run average forces any team she faces to come up with an unique game plan. Big innings are virtually non-existent and even scoring once is cause for celebration. The Huskies (35-24) had a solid approach at the plate and forced Osterman to throw 112 pitches.

"It was a pitcher's duel, which I think everyone expected," UW coach Heather Tarr said. "You have to swing at strikes, though. Our hitters know the strike zone and what's there and what's not there. I would have liked to have seen us attack a little bit better on certain counts.

"We have to stick to our plan and stick to our approach for seven innings or nine innings or 11 innings or however long we have to go."

UW had a couple of scoring chances in the middle innings.

With two outs in the third, Dominique Lastrapes doubled to left-center field. But Ashley Charters, who entered the game with a team-best .379 batting average, was caught off-balance on an off-speed pitch and struck out.

The next inning, Jacki Hansen and Brooke Woodward worked two-out walks. With Osterman showing signs of frustration, Sarah Hyatt worked a full count, but was also caught by surprise with an off-speed pitch for one of Osterman's 16 strikeouts.

Before Texas (53-7) broke through in the fifth, Lawrie was actually the more efficient pitcher. She showed no signs of feeling the pressure of pitching on the road in front of a sellout crowd of 1,437 and against a star.

"It's tough [to pitch in this situation], but they wouldn't put me out there if they don't have the confidence in me to do the job," Lawrie said.

TEXAS 1, WASHINGTON 0

Washington	000 000 0 — 0 3 0
Texas	000 010 X — 1 4 0

Lawrie and Matthews; Osterman and Willis. WP — Osterman (36-2). LP — Lawrie (23-15). Sv — None.