Softball Run-Rules UTEP

Friday, April 1

Denton, TX

6:00 PM

University of North Texas

19-7, 0

UTEP

12-21, 0

UTEP

North Texas

4/1/2022 10:09:00 PM | Softball

Box Score

DENTON, Texas – North Texas softball opened the series against UTEP with a 10-2 run-rule win at Lovelace Stadium Friday night. The Mean Green started the game with a five-run first inning and concluded the game with a four-run sixth inning to take game one of the series over the Miners.

QUOTING HEAD COACH RODNEY DELONG
"We started good and ended good. The thing we've got to learn is to bury people. We had an opportunity to bury them early and we didn't. We let them hang around to make it a close game there for a little bit. We'll work through that and make some adjustments there mentally and bury some people when we have the opportunity."

RECAP:

UNT (19-7, 8-2) started the game with its first six batters reaching base. Kalei Christensen knocked in the first run on an RBI single to center field to bring Lexi Cobb home. Kailey Gamble then followed that up with a RBI single to left field to extend the lead to 2-0. Tayla Evans homered to center field to tack on three more runs.

UTEP (12-21, 2-8) didn't respond until the top of the fourth inning when Ajia Richard singled up the middle to make it 5-1.

Both teams scored in the fifth inning as Karina Somoza singled up the middle to plate one more for the Miners to make it 5-2. But the Mean Green added one run as well in the bottom of the fifth when Molly Rainey hit a sac fly to right field to bring Simon home and extend the lead to 6-2.

In the bottom of the sixth, the North Texas bats woke up as they scored four runs on four hits to finish off the Miners. Sydney Ingle hit her first career home run to increase the lead to 7-2. Christensen and Gamble knocked in consecutive runs on singles before Rainey drove in the last run on a sac fly to center field to force the run-rule.

Skylar Savage (7-3) picked up the win as she pitched another complete game and struck out seven batters.

Zaylie Calderon (2-2) was charged the loss and was relieved in the first inning by Isabella Kelly. Kelly pitched 5.2 innings and struck out four batters.

Christensen went 3-for-4 at the plate and added two runs and two RBI for her eighth multi-hit game of the season. Gamble finished an efficient 3-for-3 at the plate with one run, two RBI, and one walk for her sixth multi-RBI game of the season.

Savannah Favre led the Miners on offense going 1-for-2 and adding one run.

UP NEXT
UNT will host UTEP for game two of the series Saturday at Lovelace Stadium. First pitch will be at 1 PM CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+.