University of North Texas Athletics
North Texas Falls In Conference Opener
4/9/2005 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DENTON (4/9/05) - The Mean Green rallied in the seventh inning but fell short with a 5-3 loss to Florida International in North Texas’ Sun Belt conference opener on Saturday afternoon at Denia Park. NT lost the nightcap of the doubleheader, 5-0.
The Mean Green (7-22, 0-2 Sun Belt) has lost its last eight games, while FIU improves to 24-16 and 2-0 in the conference. North Texas is now 0-6 in the series against the Golden Panthers.
Down 5-1 in the bottom of the seventh inning of the first game, North Texas scored two runs on two hits and two FIU errors in a comeback effort. Senior Mandy Hacker posted one of her two hits on the day to begin the rally with two outs. She came around the bases to score off two FIU errors. Senior Brittiny Chapman then knocked in Kristina Fowler with a single and reached second on the throw home. FIU pitcher Amanda Nealer struck out the final NT batter to hold on to her 13th victory.
The FIU pitchers combined for 27 strikeouts in the two games. In the nightcap, Tiffany Ore broke a school record for most strikeouts in a game with 17 and also set a FIU record for most consecutive strikeouts with 12. Ore struck out the first 12 NT batters in the 5-0 victory.
Sophomore Susan Waters grounded out to the shortstop in the fifth inning of the second game before Christen Jonse halted the no-hitter with a double. Hacker also singled in the inning but was left stranded on first base. North Texas posted only two hits in the second loss of the day.
FIU jumped ahead early, scoring three runs on four hits and one Mean Green error in the first two innings of the first game. Nealer retired the first 12 NT batters. Waters started off the fifth inning with a double and scored on an RBI by Fowler. Joines also singled in the inning.
North Texas plays FIU in a second doubleheader on Sunday, April 9 beginning at 12 pm.
