Freshmen Shine as MGSB Run-Rules ACU in Home Opener

Tuesday, February 23

Denton

2 PM

University of North Texas

4-3

Abilene Christian

2-5

Abilene Christian

North Texas

Photo by: Rick Yeatts Photography

2/23/2021 4:32:00 PM | Softball

Box Score ACU Box Score (PDF)

DENTON – North Texas hit a trio of home runs and freshman Janie Worthington took a no-hit bid into the fifth inning during her first career start as the Mean Green run-ruled ACU 10-2 in five innings on Tuesday afternoon in Lovelace Stadium.

"It's great to be home," head coach Rodney DeLong said. "Like I've said in the past we love playing in front of our fans and our atmosphere, and it's good even in COVID times. We still had a good atmosphere today and it was promising and we played well."

The Mean Green (4-3) got off to a hot start in their home opener as they got a pair of two-out home runs in the first inning. Junior Tayla Evans hit her second of the year, a towering shot to left field before freshman Rayna Lewis went back-to-back with Evans for the first of her career.

Worthington held the Wildcats (2-5) to just two runs on a pair of hits, with both coming in the fifth inning on a two-run home run. The Carnegie, Oklahoma native retired the first eight batters she faced on her way to a 4.1 inning performance where she struck out seven.

"It was great, it's everything I've been working towards.," Worthington said. "I'm really confident in the years to come and this season. I love this team and I really think we can be the best."

North Texas would start to blow the game open in the third inning with four runs on three hits, with five freshmen leading the way. After Lewis, Kalei Christensen and Ashlyn Walker all reached by walk or hit by pitch with nobody out, Maia Wark would hit a sacrifice fly to left, plating Lewis. Mikayla Smith would then single to center and score Christensen for her first career RBI before and RBI single by Molly Rainey and RBI double by Tarah Hilton put the Mean Green up 6-0.

Worthington would make quick work of the Wildcats in the top of the fourth, setting them down in order with a pair of strikeouts to keep the momentum in the North Texas dugout. A leadoff single by Christensen, walk to Walker and an ACU error would load the bases for Wark with nobody away. The Frisco native would then unload on a 1-1 pitch to notch a grand slam for her first career home run, making the score 10-0.

"It's awesome to see them grow and get used to the nerves," DeLong said about his freshmen; The Mean Green played eight freshmen in Tuesday's game. "It's a great group and I'm excited about seeing them perform, it's fun to watch."

A leadoff walk followed by a two-run home run would bring an end to Worthington's no-hit and shutout bid before her seventh strikeout would bring an end to her day. Ariel Thompson would come on and induce two quick outs to end the game.

North Texas will continue their six-game home stand this weekend with the North Texas Invitational. The Mean Green will welcome Tarleton State, Incarnate Word and Stephen F. Austin to Lovelace Stadium February 26-28.

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