University of North Texas
Florida International
North Texas Softball Sweeps Doubleheader Against FIU
4/2/2010 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Miami, Fla (4/2/10) - The North Texas softball team picked up two conference wins with a doubleheader sweep against FIU on Friday night at the FIU Softball Complex. In the opening 10-2 win, the Mean Green tied season highs in runs and hits. NT won the nightcap, 5-1.
The Mean Green improves to 15-11 and 5-3 in the Sun Belt, while FIU falls to 21-13 and 4-4 in the conference. The Golden Panthers still lead the series, 18-6.
Brittany Simmons picked up her third win of the season and first conference victory. The freshman pitched a complete game, giving up one earned run off four hits. Ashley Lail improved to 8-3 in the circle with her complete game performance. She gave up one earned run off five hits.
Mariza Martinez led the Mean Green offense with four hits and four RBI in the doubleheader, including a two-run homer in the fourth inning of the second game. She made a great defensive play in the second game, running in to catch a low line drive.
Martinez jump-started the offense in game one. She led off the game with a double and scored from third off a wild pitch to give North Texas an early 1-0 lead. After FIU tied the game in the bottom of the inning, Martinez started the offense going again with a one-out single in the third. Cantler and Johnson followed with back-to-back singles to load the bases for Bradshaw, who reached base on a dropped fly ball, scoring Martinez. Amber Miller followed by driving in two runs with a single to put North Texas ahead, 4-1.
Martinez knocked in a run in the fourth with a sacrifice fly. Lesley Hirsch scored on the play after starting the inning off with her first career double. Renae Bromley sacrificed her to third with a bunt.
Bromley knocked in two runs of her own with a two-run homer in the sixth. Lesley Hirsch led off the inning with a bunt single. The long ball was Bromley's fourth of the season. The Mean Green sealed the win with two runs in the seventh. Megan Rupp plated two runs with a single down the right field line.
In the second game, the Mean Green was aided by five FIU errors. North Texas took another 1-0 lead in the first inning off an error, and Martinez added to the lead with an RBI single in the second and a two-run homer in the fourth.
Martinez and Johnson posted multi-hit performances in both games. Johnson went 3-for-3 in the nightcap. The home run was Martinez's fifth of the season.
North Texas looks to sweep the series with a third game on Saturday, April 3 at 11 a.m., central time.
