University of North Texas
Loyola Chicago
Grimes Homers Twice In Mean Green Win
3/2/2012 12:00:00 AM | Softball
Tulsa, Okla. (3/2/12) - Caitlin Grimes hit two home runs to lead the North Texas softball team to a 12-9 win against Loyola Chicago on Friday morning at Collins Softball Complex. The Mean Green lost its second game of the day, 7-2, to Tulsa.
The Mean Green now stands at 6-9 overall and 1-1 in day one action of the Hyatt Downtown Tulsa Tournament. Loyola Chicago falls to 0-1, while Tulsa improves to 10-3.
North Texas outhit Loyola Chicago, 14-9, but struggled offensively against Tulsa pitching with just five hits. Grimes knocked in five RBI in the two games, including the only two runs scored against Tulsa. After North Texas loaded the bases against Tulsa in the fourth inning, Grimes tied the game, 2-2, by knocking in two runs with a single. The Golden Hurricane responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning to seal the win.
Grimes went 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored in the opening win. The senior posted two home runs in a single game for the first time in her career. She now has three this season and leads the team with 13 RBI.
The North Texas offense scored runs in five of the six innings that it batted against Loyola Chicago. The Mean Green tied season highs with 12 runs scored and 14 hits. The team knocked in a season-high 11 runs.
In her first career start, senior Jessica Shields knocked in two runs with a triple in the second inning. It was her first career triple. She finished the game with two RBI.
Maddelyn Fraley posted her team-leading fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning. Lisa Johnson followed with a single, and Grimes brought her home with her first long ball of the game. The two home runs in the fourth put North Texas ahead, 6-0.
After Loyola Chicago cut into the lead with three runs in the fifth, North Texas added four more runs in the bottom of the inning. Grimes led off with a solo home run down the left field line. Lesley Hirsch and Brooke Foster hit back-to-back RBI singles, and Fraley walked in a run to extend the Mean Green lead, 10-3.
Lauren Poole picked up her first win of the season. She pitched seven innings and allowed nine runs off nine hits. Only four runs were earned. She held Loyola Chicago scoreless for the first four innings before giving up three runs off four hits in the fifth. The sophomore also pitched two innings of relief against Tulsa, allowing just two hits.
Brittany Simmons (4-4) took the loss against Tulsa. She allowed seven runs off eight hits in four innings of work. The junior allowed just two runs off five hits through three innings before getting into trouble in the fourth inning with a hit batter, a walk and a fielding error.
North Texas returns to action on Saturday, March 3 when it faces Austin Peay at 10:30 a.m.
