University of North Texas
Mississippi Valley State
Trautwein No-Hits Mississippi Valley State In 11-0 Win
4/7/2018 12:00:00 AM | Softball
ITTA BENA, Miss. - It was a day of firsts for the North Texas softball team in an 11-0 win over Mississippi Valley State in five innings on Saturday afternoon. Hope Trautwein threw her first career no-hitter, the first for the program since Ashley Kirk completed one on April 29, 2013.
"I tried to work my best and work fast because of the weather," Trautwein said. "I was throwing hard and just kept the ball where they couldn't touch it."
Batting winds in the teens and a near-freezing wind chill, Trautwein (11-6) struck out 10 Devilettes in five innings and allowed just two baserunners. Chandler Ellis (2-5) suffered the loss after giving up six runs on five hits in one-plus innings.
"She worked hard and was very diligent in her task," North Texas head coach Tracey Kee said. "I don't know how she was able to get a grip on the ball today, but it was mind-over-matter in her case."
North Texas got out to a quick start with five runs on four hits in the opening frame, highlighted by a two-run double for Hanna Rebar. Six of the nine batters that went up to the plate got on base and the Mean Green combined for four stolen bases.
"We did what we needed to do to put a win in the win column," Kee said. "I thought our kids did a good job of coming out quick and being aggressive."
Camille Grahmann led off the following inning with triple to right field and scored on a Kourtney Williams RBI single. North Texas tacked on two more runs in the inning on a single off the bat of Grace Blagg, her first hit in a Mean Green uniform. She followed with another RBI single in the fifth to help make it 11-0.
"It was great," Blagg said. "It's been a long time coming. I tried to see the ball well and hit it hard and do the best I could do today."
"I couldn't be happier for Grace," Kee said. "She squared three balls up really well and put a couple runs on the board."
UP NEXT
North Texas wraps up the weekend series with Mississippi Valley State with a double-header beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday.
QUICK HITTERS
• Trautwein extended her streak of not allowing an earned run to 24 innings.
• Kourtney Williams tied career highs with two hits and one RBI.
• The Mean Green hit 12-for-29 (.414) as a team in the victory.
