University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Softball Faces Western Kentucky Again In Tournament
5/12/2006 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Miami, Fla. (5/12/06) - The North Texas softball team will face Western Kentucky once again in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament on Friday morning after defeating the Hilltoppers in the first day of the tournament at University Park.
The Mean Green will play Western Kentucky today at 11 am, eastern time, after going 1-1 in action on Thursday. Fans can view live webcasting of the tournament and get updates of all the action by clicking here.
The Mean Green (21-37) won its opening round game of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, defeating Western Kentucky, 4-2. North Texas is now 3-0 in conference tournament opening games. Sophomore Kristina Fowler earned the win in the circle, her 18th of the season, and knocked in the game-winning run. NT is 1-3 this season against Western Kentucky. The Hilltoppers swept the regular season series last weekend.
North Texas held a 2-0 lead against the No. 2 seed FIU in the Mean Green’s second game on Thursday, but the Golden Panthers came back to defeat NT, 4-2. The Mean Green is now 0-3 in second round games, losing the previous two years to Louisiana-Lafayette. NT is now 0-4 this season against FIU. The Golden Panthers swept the regular season series against North Texas.
Katya Muller posted two hits in each of the two games on Thursday, extending her hitting streak to 11 games. The 11 games is a school record, breaking the previous hitting streak of nine games, which Kristina Fowler tied earlier this season. Katy Maxey posted a nine-game hitting streak first during the 2004 season.
With her four hits in the two games yesterday, Katya Muller tied the school record for most hits in a single season with 66. Stephanie Cranmer set the record in 2004 in 77 games played. With at least one more game ahead of her, Muller has the opportunity to move ahead of her former teammate in 20 fewer games played.
With its win against Western Kentucky, the Mean Green posted its 21st victory of the season. The Mean Green has won 21 decisions in 57 games played. North Texas is one win shy of tying the 2004’s record of 22 wins. The 2004 team played 79 games.
Sophomore Kristina Fowler went 1-1 on Thursday in the opening day of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament. She allowed two runs off three hits in the first game and then gave up two runs in relief against FIU. Fowler has already surpassed her win total from last year (11) and past Katy Maxey who held the most wins in the circle with 16, set in 2004. Fowler has also surpassed her innings pitched from last year. She is currently at 234.1 innings pitched and was at 196.0 last year. She has struck out 145 batters this year, compared to 136 last year.
Stephanie Cranmer posted a .327 batting average in 2005, setting the single-season school record. Right now, Katya Muller has a .325 average, which is two points shy of tying Cranmer’s record.
Junior Anne Morton earned her third start of the season against FIU. She pitched 4.1 innings, allowing two runs off five hits. Both runs were unearned.
North Texas is 1-3 against Western Kentucky this season. In the four games, North Texas has recorded a batting average of .221, compared to the Hilltoppers, .281. North Texas also has a team ERA of 4.97, compared to WKU’s 3.50. Katya Muller leads the way offensively, hitting at a .467 clip against Western Kentucky. Heather Bostic has knocked in a team-high five RBI against WKU, including two home runs.
