Softball Powers Its Way to First C-USA Series Win

SAN ANTONIO – Powered by half a dozen home runs and a complete game from Hope Trautwein, North Texas claimed its first Conference USA series of the season with an 11-3 win over UTSA on Sunday.

"We adjusted well today to the pitcher that we struggled against yesterday," head coach Rodney DeLong said. "We had a better approach at the plate and we were a lot better today. I think every time we fell down today, we bounced back."

The six home runs tied the program record for most home runs in a game, Tayla Evans and Katie Clark both had a pair while Hanna Rebar and Candain Callahan contributed one a piece.

"It was good to see Tayla and Katie hit because they haven't hit much this so far this weekend," DeLong added. "Usually when Tayla and Katie go, we score. That's what we needed today, they bounced back and had a good day and we got out of here with a W."

Trautwein earned her 11th win of the season while allowing three runs on three hits and ran her career strikeout total to 447.

Despite ultimately dropping the contest, UTSA (14-10, 1-2 C-USA) got out to an early lead on the scoreboard and in momentum with a leadoff home run by Celeste Loughman in the first inning. The Mean Green would respond in the second to take the lead on a pair of runs, the first coming from Evans' first home run of the day to lead off the inning. After Clark reached on a two-out single, Callahan drove her in with a single of her own to center field.

The Roadrunners would take the lead back in the third inning on Loughman's second home run of the game, a two-run shot to make it a 3-2 game in favor of the home team. However, the Mean Green would not trail for long as they plated three runs in the fourth to go up 5-3.

Rebar started the scoring with a solo home run to right with one-out, then after Clark and Callahan both reached with two outs, back-to-back singles from Nicole Ochotnicki and Tarah Hilton drove them both in.

North Texas would add four more runs to the lead in the fifth after a quick 1-2-3 inning from Trautwein. After a Saleen Donohoe single led off the inning, Evans followed her with the second home run off her bat in the day. Then a Rebar double would be followed up two batters later with Clark's first home run of the day to make it 9-3 in favor of the Mean Green.

The seventh inning would see back-to-back home runs from Clark and Callahan to put the Mean Green up 11-3 for good. Callahan's home run was the first of her career, she finished the series going 6-for-9 with a home run, three RBI and three runs scored.

"Candain wants to be successful, she's going to work and compete and it's going to happen," DeLong said, "It was good to see her have some success this weekend."

North Texas will finish out its four-game road trip to San Antonio with a matchup with Incarnate Word on Monday, March 9, first pitch is set for 3 p.m. Conference USA play will continue March 13-15 when the Mean Green host Western Kentucky at Lovelace Stadium, tickets for individual games and the series as a whole are still available.

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Team Stats

Katie Clark

Candain Callahan

Tayla Evans

Hanna Rebar

Players Mentioned

Candain Callahan

Katie Clark

Saleen Donohoe

Tayla Evans

Tarah Hilton

Nicole Ochotnicki

Hanna Rebar

Hope Trautwein

Players Mentioned

Candain Callahan

Katie Clark

Saleen Donohoe

Tayla Evans

Tarah Hilton

Nicole Ochotnicki

Hanna Rebar

Hope Trautwein

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