University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Defeats WKU, 2-0, In SBC Tourney
5/13/2004 12:00:00 AM | Softball
LAFAYETTE, LA - The North Texas softball team advanced to face top-seeded Louisiana-Lafayette after defeating Western Kentucky, 2-0, in the Mean Green’s first game in the Sun Belt Conference tournament on Thursday afternoon.
"I think it was great that we went out and won our first-ever Sun Belt Conference tournament game," said interim head coach Angie Scharnhorst. "I think that win will give us momentum going into tonight’s game against Lafayette."
Freshman pitcher Katy Maxey (16-33) allowed six hits over seven innings of work, while junior Brittiny Chapman led the Mean Green offense with two hits and an RBI.
Maxey retired the first nine batters before giving up two straight singles in the bottom of the fourth inning. After issuing one walk to load the bases, the freshman forced a fly ball to left field to end the inning.
The Mean Green posted its first hit in the top of the fifth after a single by designated player Mandy Hacker. Freshman Monica Garcia singled, placing runners on the corners with two outs. Chapman posted an RBI single to put North Texas ahead, 1-0. Freshman Christen Jonse singled to load the bases, but the Mean Green was unable to bring any more runners home after Maxey struck out to end the inning.
Western Kentucky threatened in the fifth, placing runners on the corners after two singles. Maxey kept the shutout alive, forcing a groundout to end the inning.
Sophomore Kelei Walker singled to left field to start off the sixth inning. Junior Stephanie Cranmer put down a sacrifice bunt, advancing Walker to third. The Mean Green tacked on a second run after an error by the Toppers allowed Walker to score and freshman Susan Waters to reach second.
Chapman posted her second hit of the game in the seventh inning but was left stranded on second. After giving up a single in the seventh, junior Nicole Rodriguez tagged out the WKU runner and threw to first to record the double play. The final WKU batter lined out to Waters to seal the win.
The Mean Green will face No. 1 seeded ULL later today at 6:30 pm.
