Cat Osterman set a Women’s College World Series single-game strikeout mark with 18 K’s as third-seeded Texas blanked sixth seed Arizona State 2-0 in the opening round of the 2006 Women’s College World Series. 

Osterman, who moved into second on the NCAA single season strikeout list, allowed one hit as she went the distance for the 34th time this season and ran her record to 38-2 with her 28th shutout in front of a third-best opening session crowd of 4,750. 

“I could tell from my warm-ups that I was having a good day,” Osterman said. “My ball was spinning well and I felt really in command. I was pretty crisp from the get-go in warm-ups. I think after the first inning I realized I was going to be hitting my corners. Megan (Willis) did a good job keeping it on the corner.” 

Katie Burkhart fell to 29-7 with the loss. The Sun Devils’ hurler allowed both UT runs and six hits while striking out nine Longhorns. 

Willis had a 2-for-3 day at the plate, while Amber Hall added the initial run of the game in the fourth inning on her double that scored Chez Sievers, who doubled to leadoff the frame. 

That lone run would prove plenty of support for Osterman, but Desiree Williams added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth with her 12th home run of the season, a solo shot. 

“Desiree has done a great job in the leadoff spot,” Texas head coach Connie Clark said. “When she has an at-bat, she is coming back into the dugout and sharing everything with her teammates about the adjustments they are going to try and make. It’s about compensating and adjusting, and I thought we did that today. I thought we’ve done that and gotten better about it throughout the season.”