University of North Texas Athletics
Mean Green Softball Sweeps Texas State
4/14/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DENTON, Texas (4/14/10) - The North Texas softball team won its fourth straight doubleheader with two victories against Texas State on Wednesday afternoon at Lovelace Stadium. The Mean Green won the first game, 3-1, and then secured a 9-1 run-rule victory in six innings.
The Mean Green improves to 21-13 and is off to its best start in school history. NT leads the series against Texas State, 5-2. The Bobcats fall to 21-18 overall. North Texas has won eight of its last 10 games.
The Mean Green came back from 1-0 deficits in both games. Lesley Hirsch tied the opening game 1-1, in the fifth inning with a push bunt, and Mariza Martinez gave North Texas the lead with a two-RBI double.
In the nightcap, Caitlin Grimes knocked in the tying run, 1-1, with an RBI double in the second inning. Renae Bromley and Martinez hit back-to-back homers in the fifth to put North Texas ahead for good. North Texas scored five runs in the sixth to end the game on a run-rule.
Kayla Lawson picked up her fourth win of the season in the first game. She allowed one run off one hit in seven innings of work. She gave up a solo home run to Jenna Emery in the fifth inning that gave Texas State a temporary lead. Lawson has posted a 3-1 record in her last six appearances.
Ashley Lail improved to 10-4 with a two-inning shutout performance in the 9-1 victory. In relief of Brittany Simmons, Lail allowed just one hit in two innings of work. The senior needs just one more victory to tie her personal best for wins in a season.
The Mean Green was held to just two hits through four innings of work in the opening game. Down 1-0, North Texas scored three runs off four hits in the bottom of the fifth. Courtney Bradshaw led off the inning with a single up the middle. Monica Hirsch ran out a bunt single to advance pinch runner Anna Barren to second. Lesley Hirsch brought Barren home to tie the game with a push bunt that went all the way to the outfield.
Martinez ended up with the game-winning hit, posting a single to right field that scored two runs. Martinez led the offense with three RBI in the two games.
The second game was tied 1-1 through four innings of play until the Mean Green exploded for eight runs in fifth and six innings. With two outs in the fifth, Bromley hit her fifth home run of the season to put North Texas ahead, 2-1. Martinez followed with her seventh long ball of the season. The Mean Green has hit 43 home runs this season, which is tied for the third-most in a single season in school history. NT needs seven more to set the record.
Lisa Johnson scored the Mean Green's third run of the inning off a passed ball. The offense continued rolling in the sixth with five runs. Megan Rupp led off the inning with a single, and Rebecca Waters quickly brought her home with an RBI double. Waters posted two hits in the game. After two walks, a passed ball and an error, Johnson ended the game with a two-RBI single.
North Texas returns to action on Friday, April 16 when it faces Troy in Troy, Alabama at 6 p.m. The Mean Green is currently in third place in the Sun Belt with a 7-5 record.
