Bowling Green, KY (5/12/05) The North Texas softball team came back to tie No. 13 Louisiana-Lafayette but was unable to hold off the Ragin’ Cajuns in a 4-2 loss in the second round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Thursday afternoon at the WKU Softball Complex.
The Mean Green (14-37) is now 1-1 in the 2005 conference tournament after beating New Mexico State, 2-0, in the first game. North Texas lost to UL Lafayette (48-8) in the second round of last year’s SBC tournament.
Freshman pitcher Kristina Fowler (10-20) took the loss on the mound for North Texas. She pitched six innings and allowed four runs on five hits. Four of the five hits were for extra bases. Heather Bobbitt (17-0) earned the win for UL Lafayette, giving up one earned run on five hits.
Louisiana-Lafayette jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first inning off a RBI double by Ashley Evans. Jill Robertson scored after starting the inning with a walk. Joy Webre tacked on a second run in the second inning with a solo home run to left field.
North Texas tied the game at 2-2 off three hits and a Ragin’ Cajun error in the fifth inning. Monica Garcia knocked in the first run with a double to left center. Christen Jonse scored on the play after reaching base on a fielder’s choice. Brittiny Chapman scored the tying run from third after Kelei Walker reached base on an error by the pitcher.
Crystal George did not let UL Lafayette remain in a tie for long. She hit a solo home run to center field in the bottom of the fifth inning to put her team ahead, 3-2. The Ragin’ Cajuns added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning with the team’s third solo home run.
Mandy Hacker singled in the top of the sixth inning but was left stranded on base.
North Texas plays Middle Tennessee on Friday, May 13 at 1:30 pm in the consolation bracket. The Lady Raiders lost to FIU in the first round by a score of 2-1.
