Thursday, April 14
Denton, TX
6:00 PM
University of North Texas
8
vs
2
Louisiana Tech
Softball Takes Series Opener vs. Louisiana Tech
4/14/2022 10:39:00 PM | Softball
DENTON, Texas – North Texas homered three times Thursday evening against Louisiana Tech to win 8-2 at Lovelace Stadium to take game one of the series. The Mean Green faced a 1-0 deficit early but took the lead in the third inning and never looked back.
QUOTING HEAD COACH RODNEY DELONG
"We started a little slow and were a little uncomfortable early. Skylar was a little uncomfortable but settled in and pitched really good down the stretch. This group has been like this all year, they adjust and they figure it out and keep going. I'm proud of how they responded to a little early pressure and played well down the stretch."
RECAP:
Louisiana Tech (27-16, 7-6) scored first when Brooke Diaz brought a runner home on a RBI single up the middle to make it 1-0 in the top of the first. The Lady Techsters threatened to break the game open and loaded the bases with two outs before North Texas recorded the final out on a fielder's choice to end the inning.
UNT then tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning when Ashlyn Walker singled through the right side to bring a runner home.
The Mean Green (25-8, 13-3) bats came alive in the third inning when Tayla Evans singled to left center setting up Kailey Gamble for her second appearance at the plate. Gamble proceeded to hit her team-leading 11th home run of the season to take a 3-1 lead.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Louisiana Tech cut the lead in half when Madie Green reached on an error allowing Sierra Sacco to score from third. The North Texas defense then stiffened to get the final out and head to the bottom of the fifth with a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Mean Green bats exploded for five runs on four hits as five straight batters reached base. Cierra Simon made it 4-2 with a solo homer to center field before Kalei Christensen doubled down the right field line. Tayla Evans then reached base after being hit by a pitch to bring Gamble once again to the plate.
Gamble doubled to center field to bring both runners home and widen the gap to 6-2. One batter later, Molly Rainey crushed a bomb to left center to extend the lead to 8-2.
Skylar Savage (10-3) pitched her seventh complete game of the season and finished the game with six strikeouts while only surrendering one earned run.
Gamble finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 for the fourth time this season and added two runs, one home run, and four RBI. Rainey continued her offensive surge going 2-for-3 with one home run, one run, and two RBI.
Audrey Pickett (18-5) was charged the loss for Louisiana Tech and pitched 4.1 innings.
Sierra Sacco led the Lady Techsters and finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs.
UP NEXT
Game two of the series will be played Friday at 6 PM CT at Lovelace Stadium as the Mean Green will try to clinch the series. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
QUOTING HEAD COACH RODNEY DELONG
"We started a little slow and were a little uncomfortable early. Skylar was a little uncomfortable but settled in and pitched really good down the stretch. This group has been like this all year, they adjust and they figure it out and keep going. I'm proud of how they responded to a little early pressure and played well down the stretch."
RECAP:
Louisiana Tech (27-16, 7-6) scored first when Brooke Diaz brought a runner home on a RBI single up the middle to make it 1-0 in the top of the first. The Lady Techsters threatened to break the game open and loaded the bases with two outs before North Texas recorded the final out on a fielder's choice to end the inning.
UNT then tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the second inning when Ashlyn Walker singled through the right side to bring a runner home.
The Mean Green (25-8, 13-3) bats came alive in the third inning when Tayla Evans singled to left center setting up Kailey Gamble for her second appearance at the plate. Gamble proceeded to hit her team-leading 11th home run of the season to take a 3-1 lead.
After a scoreless fourth inning, Louisiana Tech cut the lead in half when Madie Green reached on an error allowing Sierra Sacco to score from third. The North Texas defense then stiffened to get the final out and head to the bottom of the fifth with a 3-2 lead.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Mean Green bats exploded for five runs on four hits as five straight batters reached base. Cierra Simon made it 4-2 with a solo homer to center field before Kalei Christensen doubled down the right field line. Tayla Evans then reached base after being hit by a pitch to bring Gamble once again to the plate.
Gamble doubled to center field to bring both runners home and widen the gap to 6-2. One batter later, Molly Rainey crushed a bomb to left center to extend the lead to 8-2.
Skylar Savage (10-3) pitched her seventh complete game of the season and finished the game with six strikeouts while only surrendering one earned run.
Gamble finished the game a perfect 3-for-3 for the fourth time this season and added two runs, one home run, and four RBI. Rainey continued her offensive surge going 2-for-3 with one home run, one run, and two RBI.
Audrey Pickett (18-5) was charged the loss for Louisiana Tech and pitched 4.1 innings.
Sierra Sacco led the Lady Techsters and finished 3-for-4 at the plate with two runs.
UP NEXT
Game two of the series will be played Friday at 6 PM CT at Lovelace Stadium as the Mean Green will try to clinch the series. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
Players Mentioned
OF/C
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
OF
/ Softball
RHP
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
C
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