University of North Texas Athletics
Fowler Pitches A Five-Hit Shutout Against Owls
3/22/2008 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DENTON, Texas (3/22/08) Senior Kristina Fowler pitched a shutout, and freshman Mallory Cantler drove in three runs to lead the North Texas softball team to a 5-0 victory against Florida Atlantic on Saturday afternoon at Lovelace Stadium.
The Mean Green (15-17, 6-3 Sun Belt) takes the conference series victory against the Owls after winning two of the three games. FAU falls to 22-17 and 4-2 in the Sun Belt. NT and FAU are tied in the overall series, 3-3.
Fowler picked up her fourth win of the season, pitching seven innings and allowing just five hits. She struck out four batters and allowed just one walk.
"Today, pitching was key," said North Texas head coach TJ Hubbard. "All weekend, the pitchers did a fabulous job. They prevented FAU from having a big inning."
The second inning looked like it might be trouble for Fowler. She walked her first batter, hit the second batter and then FAU loaded the bases with an infield single. The senior pitcher forced two pop ups, the second one leading to a double play that ended the inning.
Rebecca Waters put North Texas on the scoreboard in the second inning with her sixth home run of the season. The sophomore has now hit six home runs in the last eight games. Two of her four hits against the Owls were home runs.
"Everything is clicking for Rebecca right now," said Hubbard. "She is seeing good pitches. She is just on fire."
Cantler knocked in the team’s second run in the third inning with an infield single. The freshman was also a part of NT’s three-run fifth inning. With runners on second and third and two outs, Canter doubled to the gap in left center for a two-RBI extra-base hit. She leads the team with 10 doubles, which ties her for fourth on the Mean Green’s single-season school record list. She also moved into fourth on the single-season school record list with 25 RBI.
Sarah Jones followed Cantler with her sixth double of the season, driving in the team’s final run. Two of Jones’ four hits against FAU were doubles.
North Texas returns to action on Wednesday, March 26 when it faces UTA on the road at 6 pm.
