University of North Texas Athletics
Softball Sweeps ULM With Three Victories
3/11/2007 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DENTON (3/11/07) - For the second straight game, the North Texas softball team scored three runs in the seventh inning to come back and defeat Louisiana-Monroe, 6-5, on Sunday afternoon at Lovelace Stadium. The Mean Green swept ULM, 3-0, this weekend for its best start in Sun Belt Conference play.
The Mean Green (6-17, 3-0 Sun Belt) takes an 8-1 series advantage against the Warhawks and already tied its conference wins from last year with three victories. North Texas won all three games by one run and came back in the seventh innings of the last two games to win.
"Once the girls found the winning way, it’s hard to lose," said North Texas Head Coach Kelly Burns. "They are hitting the ball well and working together as a team."
For the second consecutive game, a senior stepped up with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to knock in the game-winning run. With a runner on second, Christen Jonse posted a ground-rule double to right field. The ball bounced out of the stadium as senior Monica Garcia scored the game-winning run. Garcia’s two-RBI double tied the game at 5-5 with a shot to center field that was inches from going out of the stadium. The ball bounced out of the centerfielder’s glove right at the wall.
"I am so proud of our team," said senior Monica Garcia. "It was a total team effort. The players in front of me did all the work getting on base and putting me in a position to score runs."
Junior Kristina Fowler won her second straight game after relieving starter Ashley Lail in the seventh inning. Lail pitched five shutout innings, allowing only two hits before getting into trouble in the sixth. The Warhawks scored two runs off three hits and one Mean Green error in the sixth inning to come within one run of North Texas, 3-2. ULM took the lead in the top of the seventh with three runs on three hits and two more NT errors. Fowler came in and forced two fly outs to end the inning
Susan Waters and Fowler started the comeback with back-to-back singles in the bottom of the seventh. Waters went 2-for-3 in the game with an RBI single in the second inning. Katya Muller also had an RBI in that inning with a double to right center field. The shortstop led the team in the series with four hits. Garcia led the way with four RBI and three doubles.
North Texas returns to action on Thursday, March 15 when the Mean Green plays Louisiana Tech in non-conference action with a doubleheader, beginning at 3 pm at Lovelace Stadium.
