University of North Texas Athletics
Softball Wins In 11 Innings
2/10/2011 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Tempe, Ariz. (2/10/11) - Four runs in the 11th inning propelled the North Texas softball team to an 8-4 win against Cal State Bakersfield on Thursday afternoon at the ASU Kajikawa Classic.
North Texas starts off the 2011 season with a 1-0 record and improves to 6-2 in season-opening games. Cal State Bakersfield falls to 0-1 on the season and 0-1 in the series against the Mean Green.
Courtney Bradshaw ended up with the game-winning hit in the top of the 11th; a two-RBI single up the middle that scored two unearned runs. Megan Rupp added two more insurance runs with a single. The junior also tied the game for the Mean Green in the fourth with a two-out RBI double. The Beaverton, Ore., native went 2-for-5 in the game with three RBI. The three RBI is a career high.
"It was an intense game," said North Texas head coach T.J.Hubbard. "Once we tied up the game, we started to settle down. Simmons was fantastic in the circle. She was a big reason why we were able to stay in the game. Megan Rupp was huge at the top of the lineup."
The 11-inning game ties for the second-longest game in school history. Brittany Simmons pitched all 11 innings; a career best and ties for second-most innings pitched in a single game. The sophomore improves to 1-0 after giving up two earned runs on 11 hits. She gave up four runs in the first three innings but then settled down and pitched eight shutout innings. Simmons struck out a career-high six batters.
The Mean Green took an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first inning off a Lisa Johnson RBI double. Rupp scored on the play after reaching base on an error and then stealing second. CSU Bakersfield responded with two runs in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 advantage.
CSU Bakersfield added two more runs in the bottom of the third off three hits and two Mean Green errors.
Rupp tied the game for the Mean Green, 4-4, with a two-out RBI double in the top of the fourth inning. The Mean Green scored three runs in the fourth after being down, 4-1. Monica and Lesley Hirsch started the rally with singles. After both advanced bases off a wild pitch, Renae Bromley brought them home with two-RBI single to left field. Back to the top of the lineup, Rupp doubled up the middle to score Bromley from second.
Lesley Hirsch led the Mean Green with three hits.
CSU Bakersfield outhit the Mean Green, 11-9, but allowed four errors in the game.
North Texas continues action in the ASU Kajikawa Classic with two games on Friday, Feb. 11 against Appalachian State and No. 20 Stanford.
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