Softball Blanks LeTourneau; Clinches Playoff Berth
April 19, 2008

LONGVIEW, Texas -- The 3rd-ranked University of Texas at Tyler softball team shutout LeTourneau in back-to-back games on Saturday in Longview and clinched a berth in the 2008 American Southwest Softball Championship Tournament in the process. The Patriots took game one 10-0 and won the second game, 8-0.

In the first game, the Patriots spread out 10 runs over four innings to pick up the shutout win. Sophomore Amanda Busby (Elysian Fields, Texas) was 2-for-3 with two runs, three RBIs and a homerun.

Freshman Sarah DeStefano (Franklin, Texas) only had one hit in the game, but made it count by blasting a two-run shot in the top of the 5th inning.

Freshman Kelsey Harrington (Texarkana, Texas) improved to a perfect 13-0 in the circle on the year, by allowing just four hits and striking out 10 batters in the complete game, shutout win.

In game two, it was more of the same offensively for UT Tyler as junior Megan Richardson (Platteville, Colo.) hit her 11th homerun of the season in the top of the seventh to put an emphatic exclamation point on the win. Richardson would finish the game by going 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBIs.

Amanda Busby and freshman Brittanni Hanna (Mesquite, Texas) combined for six of UT Tyler’s 13 hits, as each went 3-for-4 and scored a run.

Freshman pitcher Stacy Shepherd (Houston, Texas) picked up her first shutout of the year, as she was just one hit away from a perfect game. Shepherd struck out seven while allowing just one hit and giving up no walks, hitting no batters and throwing no wild pitches.

With the wins, UT Tyler improves to 32-2 on the year and 16-2 in the ASC, while LeTourneau falls to 16-20 overall and 8-12 in the conference.

The Patriots will begin a three-series home stand to close out their regular season on Tuesday when they host East Texas Baptist. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. at the UT Tyler Ballpark.

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