Miami, Fla. (5/12/06) Kristina Fowler hit a three-run homer to give the North Texas softball team a 4-3 victory against Western Kentucky in Sun Belt Conference Tournament action on Friday afternoon at University Park. The Mean Green will face Troy in its second elimination game of the day at 6:30 pm today, eastern time.
The Mean Green (22-37) defeated Western Kentucky for the second time in the tournament, knocking the Hilltoppers out of the tournament with today’s victory. North Texas gave up an early 1-0 but scored three runs in the sixth inning off the Fowler home run to regain the lead.
“This was a great team effort all-around, pitching, hitting and defense,” said North Texas head coach Kelly Burns. “Anne did a great job keeping the hitters off-balance. Kadie Platt kept us in the game with great plays, especially stealing a potential home run. Kristina’s home run proved to be the game winner.”
Fowler proved to be a thorn in WKU’s side; she posted the game-winning hit in yesterday’s 4-2 win against the Hilltoppers. Fowler also picked up the win in the circle today, securing her 19th victory of the season. She relieved starter Anne Morton and pitched a combined 2.1 innings, allowing only hit and one run.
Sophomore Katya Muller extended her school record hitting streak to 12 games in her first at-bat against Western Kentucky. She singled up the middle for North Texas’ first hit of the game. With that hit, Muller also set the single-season school record for hits with 67. She surpassed Stephanie Cranmer’s record of 66 set in 2004. Muller set the record in 59 games played, while Cranmer hit 66 in 77 games played.
In the top of the second, Platt made a leaping catch to rob Adrienne Lathrop of a home run. Platt then helped out offensively, starting off the third inning for North Texas with a triple to right field. Junior Monica Garcia knocked her home with a sacrifice fly to put the Mean Green on the scoreboard, 1-0. North Texas has held early leads in all three games in the tournament.
Alana Towns hit a two-RBI triple to give Western Kentucky a 2-1 lead in the top of the sixth inning. Amanda Ford-Feitz knocked Towns home with a grounder to give the Hilltoppers a 3-1 advantage. Platt made another standout defensive play to end the inning, diving to catch Sam Young’s line drive to right field.
North Texas responded in the bottom of the sixth inning with three runs of its own. Muller started the offense going with her second hit of the game, increasing her season total to 68. The shortstop has posted six hits in the combined three games of the tournament. She moved to second after Susan Waters was hit by a pitch but was forced out on a Bostic grounder. Fowler then came up to bat and brought Bostic and Waters home with a long ball to left field.
The Mean Green will face No. 4 seed Troy at 6:30 pm, eastern time, tonight.
