University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Softball Wins Two At Tulsa Festival
2/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Tulsa, Okla. (2/24/06) - The North Texas softball team took the first step towards defending its title at the Tulsa Festival with two wins on Friday at the Donna J. Hardesty Softball Complex. The Mean Green defeated Louisiana-Monroe, 6-1, behind four home runs and then needed extra innings to beat Boston College, 6-4.
North Texas won the Tulsa Festival last year with a record of 4-1 in the tournament. The Mean Green evened its record this season at 6-6, its best start through 12 games in the three-year history of the program. NT takes a 2-0 lead in the series against Louisiana-Monroe and defeats BC in the first meeting between the two teams.
The Mean Green scored six runs off eight hits in the win against Louisiana-Monroe. Five of those hits were for extra bases, including four home runs. NT has posted four long balls in a single game three times in the three-year history of the program; once during each season.
North Texas used three runs in the top off the eighth inning to defeat Boston College after giving up the tying run in the bottom of the seventh. Freshman Sarah Jones and senior Kelei Walker knocked in the game-winning runs for the Mean Green. After going 2-for-29 to start the season, Jones erupted for three hits against Boston College.
Sophomore Katya Muller started the offense with a lead-off home run in the bottom of the first inning against the Indians. Walker followed with a double and junior Susan Waters brought her home with a two-run long ball to put North Texas ahead 3-0. Muller went 3-for-4 against ULM, her second game of the season with three hits. She finished the day with five hits and three RBI.
Sophomore Kristina Fowler led off the third inning with her first home run of the season. Junior Heather Bostic singled and Monica Garcia knocked her home with her first home run of the 2006 season. Fowler was also effective on the mound, winning for fourth game. She pitched a complete game, giving up one run in the top of the fourth inning. She allowed only four hits in the game.
Fowler also picked up the win against BC, while Jessica Smith earned her first save of the season. Smith started the game and pitched effectively through five innings, giving up three hits. Fowler relieved her in the sixth inning and retired the side. The sophomore then gave up three runs in the seventh inning, which tied the game at 3-3. The North Texas offense helped its pitcher out by scoring three runs in the top of the eighth. Fowler gave up one run in the eighth before Smith came on to seal the win with a ground out and a double-play ball.
North Texas returns to action on Saturday with two more games in the Tulsa Festival. The Mean Green faces Eastern Ilinois at 9 am and Creighton at 7 pm.
