University of North Texas
Louisiana Tech
Softball Completes Sweep Of LA Tech
3/25/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
DENTON - Every player in the starting lineup got a hit as North Texas out-slugged Louisiana Tech 9-7 in the series finale on Sunday afternoon at Lovelace Stadium. The Mean Green combined for 13 hits, which tied the second-most by the team this season.
"The offense fired on all cylinders," North Texas head coach Tracey Kee said. "We had the long ball, the short ball and strung hits together, which is something we hadn't been doing.
Lacy Gregory went 3-for-4 with three runs and a solo home run in the sixth inning to answer a two-run inning for the Lady Techsters. Gregory finished the weekend 5-for-10 with four runs and two RBI on a pair of solo blasts
"The coaches prepared us so well this week for these pitchers," Gregory said. "Our main focus right now is offense. That's the bread and butter of this team right now. I've been getting my reps in and just focusing on getting good swings on balls.
Trying to salvage a win in the series, LA Tech erupted for five runs on four hits in the opening frame off three pitchers as Hope Trautwein and Ally Lindsey each gave up a home run before Maria Priest entered with one out. After giving up an RBI single, Priest got the final two outs to put out the fire.
"When a team's trying not to get swept, they always tend to come out and throw the biggest punch," Kee said. "Credit to LA Tech for lighting us up early, but credit to our kids for not just rolling over. We could've let them keep pounding it, but we chipped away."
Priest (8-9) pitched the final 6 2/3, allowing just one earned run on six hits with three strikeouts to pick up her second win of the weekend.
"She picked up a lot of confidence yesterday in that second game," Kee said. "You can see her maturity level rise. She just looked confident out there. For her, it couldn't be happening at a better time."
Priest, who entered the weekend tied for second on the team in defensive assists, had six in the series finale and made three heads-up plays to get lead runners out.
"She's an athlete," Kee said. "Very seldom do you see a pitcher that can get lead outs and fields like she fields."
North Texas got one back in the home-half of the first off back-to-back doubles from Katie Clark and Lindsay Gregory. After the next nine Mean Green batters were retired, UNT tied the ballgame in the bottom of the fourth with a trio of RBI singles from Clark, Hanna Rebar and Sam Rea.
"We kept telling them but they believe they're never out of a game," Kee said. "That's the confidence we have in those kids. I thought a lot of people stepped up today."
Rea tied a career high with five RBI with a three-run shot to right-field to give the Mean Green their first lead in the bottom of the fifth. The long ball gave Rea 13 RBI in her last 10 games.
"The biggest part has been my confidence in the box," Rea said. "I feel like I can hit any pitch right now."
UP NEXT
North Texas stays at home for a mid-week double-header against Texas Southern at 3 and 5 p.m. Wednesday.
QUICK HITTERS
• Sam Rea tied a career high with five RBI, last set against Paradise Valley Community College on March 18, 2017, while she was at Phoenix College.
• The Mean Green have hit multiple home runs in five of their last seven games and are 4-1 in those games.
• The win marks just the second victory for North Texas when allowing nine or more hits (2-11).
