Fresno State Athletics
Solid Pitching Leads Texas Past UMBC 6-0
5/19/2000 12:00:00 AM | Softball
May 19, 2000
FRESNO, Calif. - The Texas Longhorns stayed alive in the 2000 NCAA Region VI Softball Championship by eliminating University of Maryland-Baltimore County 6-0 at Bulldog Diamond on Friday. In a game where the loser went home, the Longhorns executed at the right time and pitcher Carmen Martinez threw a shutout, allowing only 2 hits and striking out eight.
Martinez struck out the side in the top of the first and Texas was retired by UMBC pitcher Jackie Ruffin without harm in the bottom half of the first frame. However, the Longhorns got on the scoreboard first in their next at bat.
Melissa Martin walked with one out and advanced to second on Autumn Eastes' sacrifice bunt. But Retriever catcher Stephanie Happel's throw to first was wide, allowing Martin to advance to third. After Eastes stole second, Trisha Tatro tripled, driving in Eastes and Martin. Then, on a 2-1 pitch, Tiffiny Valdehueza singled past the pitcher to make the score 3-0.
Texas never looked back after the second inning, scoring a run in the third, fourth and fifth. Seven of Texas' nine starters had one hit and four had at least one RBI. Although the Retrievers committed four errors, right fielder Lisa Boone kept the team in the ball game. After two sharply hit balls to right, Boone came up gunning to first to make the play. She also made a stellar running catch to save a run in the fifth inning. Happel and Deanna Vecchio had the only hits for UMBC. Texas improves its record to 30-26-1, while UMBC ends its season with a record of 30-28.
Quotes - Texas
Head coach Connie Clark: "I'm obviously excited about how we came out ready with our bats. Carmen [Martinez] stayed focused through the heat and our team played with a warrior like attitude with the expectation of getting the job done."
"Give credit to their outfielders. They get great jumps on the ball and played exceptionally well, good enough to keep them in the game."
"I think I have a lot of talent on this team. We've had a lot of ups and downs this season and really haven't been able to put all the necessary components together. I was pleased to see the aggressiveness that we had at the plate, raising our game at least a notch."
Pitcher Carmen Martinez: "My rise ball was really effective for me. They [UMBC] weren't really able to get on top of it and it really set the tone for the rest of my pitches."
"As a senior, I know that any game could be my last, so there is a little bit more adrenaline running through my system."
Quotes - UMBC
Head Coach Michelle Neveling: "I thought our kids hung in extremely well and I'm proud of them for their efforts. As I told the team after the game, we only lose two seniors, and it is to our advantage that the underclassmen can build on this experience for the next three years."
On right fielder Lisa Boone: "She is the best right fielder I've seen all year. She is a fearless competitor that wants to make every play, day in and day out."
Right fielder Lisa Boone, "With this experience, the things coach says in practice will make a lot more sense now that we've been able to experience them in game situations."
