University of North Texas Athletics
Softball Splits In Day One Of Sleep Inn Classic
2/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Denton, Texas (2/20/09) - The North Texas softball team used a six-run third inning to defeat Iowa State, 7-4, in opening day action of the Sleep Inn Classic on Friday afternoon at Lovelace Stadium. Missouri State defeated the Mean Green, 2-1, in eight innings in the second game of the day.
The Mean Green extends its overall record to 5-4 and moves to 1-2 in the series against the Cyclones and the Bears. Iowa State improves to 10-2, falling to the Mean Green but picking up a win against Missouri State. The Bears are 3-4 this season.
"We pitched really well in both games," said North Texas head coach TJ Hubbard. "Both pitchers pitched well enough to win. It has just been an offensive roller coaster this season."
Smith (3-1) picked up her third win of the season with a complete game performance against Iowa State in the first game. The sophomore allowed just three hits in seven innings of work but three Mean Green errors helped four runs cross the plate.
Kayla Lawson fell to 1-2 after pitching seven innings and allowing nine hits off one earned run. She struck out six batters. Missouri State used an RBI single in the bottom of the eighth to take a 2-1 victory. In 14 innings of work. Smith and Lawson gave up a combined one earned run.
"Everything fell into place for us in the third inning against Iowa State," said Hubbard. "We did a good job working the pitch count and hitting good pitches. It was nice to Mallory finally get one to fall through. I was very impressed with Caitlin. That was clutch hitting, coming in for her first at-bat against a Big 12 opponent."
Freshman Lisa Johnson gave the Mean Green a 1-0 lead in the first inning against Iowa State with an RBI double. Mariza Martinez scored after reaching base on a hit by pitch. Mallory Cantler knocked in the Mean Green’s first run of the big third inning with an RBI single to right field. Sarah Jones loaded the bases and scored a run with an RBI single. Two more runs scored off a bases-loaded walk and an illegal pitch to give North Texas a 5-1 lead. In her first appearance in a Mean Green uniform, Caitlin Grimes hit a pinch-hit two-RBI double to put NT ahead, 7-1.
Iowa State cut into the lead in the fifth with three runs, but North Texas held on for the win. Martinez was the only Mean Green player with two hits in the game.
"We have to get the offense going. Our offense needs to be more consistant," said Hubbard. "Our pitchers are keeping us in every game."
North Texas and Missouri State struggled to get runners across home plate in the Mean Green’s second game of the day. The two teams left a combined 16 runners stranded on base.
The Bears took a 1-0 lead in the fifth off back-to-back doubles. Mallory Cantler tied the game at 1-1 in the sixth with an RBI double to right field, scoring Martinez who singled to get on base.
Wichita State leads the tournament after one day of action with a 2-0 record. Missouri State, North Texas and Iowa State all picked up a single win and a single loss on Friday. Butler went winless in its season-opening weekend.
North Texas continues action in the Sleep Inn Classic with a 12:30 pm against Central Arkansas on Saturday, Feb. 21 at Lovelace Stadium in Denton.
