University of North Texas
Florida International
Softball Splits Doubleheader With FIU
3/10/2013 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DENTON, Texas (3/10/13) - The North Texas softball team split the doubleheader against FIU on Sunday afternoon at Lovelace Stadium. Despite outhitting the Panthers, 5-3, the Mean Green lost 1-0 in the opening game but came back to defeat FIU, 2-1, in the nightcap.
The Mean Green improves to 12-11 and 1-1 in its opening conference series. North Texas and FIU (16-11, 1-1) played only two games in the three-game series because of rain on Saturday.
Both games featured pitching duels with the outcomes being determined by timely hitting, base on balls and errors. Ashley Kirk (5-4) took the loss in the first game despite giving up just one earned run off three hits. She walked six and struck out three. Corinne Jenkins pitched the shutout for the Panthers.
Only one run was scored in the first game. FIU's Aleima Lopez knocked in the game-winning run off Kirk after the right-handed gave up two two-out walks. Lopez recorded two of FIU's three hits in the game.
Brooke Foster brought home the Mean Green's first run of the day with a single, scoring Madison Tierney from second in the third inning of the second game. Kayla Burri quickly tied the game with a solo home run to left field. Foster led the Mean Green offense with three hits on the day.
North Texas scored the winning run in the fifth inning off two hits and a Panther error. Bryana Wade beat out the throw for an infield single to start the offense going. After Lauren Poole pinch ran for Wade, Lesley Hirsch moved her to second with a single up the middle. Tori Bice came up as a pinch hitter and hit a ball back to the pitcher that ended up scoring the winning run. Poole scored the winning run from second after the hit ball was misplayed at third base.
Brittany Simmons (4-3) picked up the win in the second game. She allowed one earned run off six hits.
North Texas outhit FIU, 6-3, in the Mean Green win. The Mean Green defense turned two double plays in the second game and one in the first.
North Texas returns to action on Saturday, March 16 when it faces Troy in a doubleheader.
