University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Softball Faces No. 12 Oklahoma This Afternoon
3/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Norman, Okla. (3/10/10) - The North Texas softball team plays its second ranked opponent for the second consecutive week when it faces No. 12 Oklahoma this afternoon at 5 p.m. at Marita Hynes Field.
North Texas (7-7) is 0-15 all-time in the series against Oklahoma (15-3). OU defeated the Mean Green in a home and away series last year. Oklahoma is ranked No. 12 in the latest NFCA Top 25 Poll. The Sooners drop a spot after losing, 1-0, to Oklahoma State last week.
For the second straight week, North Texas will face an opponent ranked in the NFCA/USA Today Top 25 Poll. The Mean Green lost to No. 25 Oklahoma State last week, 7-0, on the road. The Mean Green went 0-6 last year against ranked opponents.
No sophomore slump for Lisa Johnson. She led the Mean Green last week with a .500 batting average and a .545 on-base percentage. Overall, she is first among the starters with a .425 hitting percentage and leads the team with six home runs. She has already tied her home run total from last year and moved into a tie for sixth place all-time in career home runs at North Texas.
Brittany Simmons picked up her first career win in the 5-0 victory against Centenary this past Friday. She pitched five innings, giving up just four hits. In the two games against Centenary, the freshman gave up just six hits in eight innings of work. She improved her overall record to 1-3 and lowered her earned run average to 2.62.
The Mean Green is continuing its emphasis on stealing bases in 2010. Megan Rupp is 5-for-5 in stolen base attempts, while Mariza Martinez is 3-for-4. In 2010, Martinez has tied the career school record for most stolen bases with 25. Rupp is third with 21.
Assistant coach Erin Evans is returning to her old stomping grounds. A four-year starter for Oklahoma in the outfield from 2000-03, Evans was a part of four World Series appearances with the Sooners, including the national championship team in 2000. She was a three-time All-Big 12 First Team selection, a three-time All-Midwest Region selection and was the first freshman player in OU history to earn All-America honors as a third-team selection in 2000. She was named to the NCAA All-Region Team in 2000 and 2001 and was named the NCAA Regional Most Outstanding Player in 2001.
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