Friday, February 10
Atlanta, Georgia
8 AM CT
University of North Texas
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UIC
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North Texas
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No. 24 Softball Sweeps Opening Day Doubleheader
2/10/2023 4:24:00 PM | Softball
ATLANTA – No. 24 UNT softball collected a pair of shutout victories at the Buzz Classic on Friday, defeating UIC 5-0, and Saint Francis 8-0 on opening day.
"It's good to get opening day out of the way with two wins," head coach Rodney DeLong said. "As a staff, we threw the ball really well today. The offense had some timely hits including big days from Lexi and Kale at the plate. We are happy with the results today but know we have a big day tomorrow against UConn and Georgia Tech."
The Mean Green were led by strong pitching performances by junior McKenzie Wagoner and senior Ashley Peters. Wagoner posted the win in relief over UIC with 4.2 innings pitched, posting a career-high mark of 10 strikeouts in her North Texas debut. Peters spun a complete game shutout, allowing two hits in 5.0 innings with six strikeouts against the Red Flash.
"I felt great today and was excited to contribute to my team," Wagoner said. "The defense had my back and the support this team gives me is one of a kind."
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. UIC
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. SAINT FRANCIS
NOTES
UP NEXT
North Texas faces day two of the Buzz Classic with matchups against UConn at 10:30 a.m. CT and hosts Georgia Tech at 3:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. Both games can be seen live on ACC Network Extra.
"It's good to get opening day out of the way with two wins," head coach Rodney DeLong said. "As a staff, we threw the ball really well today. The offense had some timely hits including big days from Lexi and Kale at the plate. We are happy with the results today but know we have a big day tomorrow against UConn and Georgia Tech."
The Mean Green were led by strong pitching performances by junior McKenzie Wagoner and senior Ashley Peters. Wagoner posted the win in relief over UIC with 4.2 innings pitched, posting a career-high mark of 10 strikeouts in her North Texas debut. Peters spun a complete game shutout, allowing two hits in 5.0 innings with six strikeouts against the Red Flash.
"I felt great today and was excited to contribute to my team," Wagoner said. "The defense had my back and the support this team gives me is one of a kind."
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. UIC
- Lexi Cobb led off the home half of the first inning with a home run to right field. She is the first North Texas player to hit a home run in her first at-bat of the season since Tayla Evans on February 7, 2020.
- Kalei Christensen recorded an RBI single, scoring redshirt sophomore Tatum Sparks in her collegiate debut, to open a 2-0 lead for the Mean Green.
- Wagoner entered the circle after the Flames loaded the bases in the top of the 2nd inning with one out. She struck out the next two batters to preserve the two-run lead.
- North Texas converted a bases-loaded opportunity in the 3rd, scoring Kailey Gamble and Christensen to push the advantage to 4-0 after the pair tallied singles to open the inning.
- Wagoner struck out the side in the top of the 4th before Gamble knocked in her first RBI of the season in the home half for a 5-0 lead.
- Wagoner and freshman Mackenzie Childers combined to strike out six of the final seven batters to seal the victory for the Mean Green.
- Sophomore Katy Truitt made her return to the lineup, starting as the designated player, after an injury sidelined her for the entire 2022 season.
- In addition to Wagoner, newcomers Sparks, Childers, Jodie Epperson, Mikaela Olguin and Rylee Nicholson all made their UNT debuts in the game.
HOW IT HAPPENED VS. SAINT FRANCIS
- Cobb opened the bottom of the first with a double and subsequent stolen base to later score on a groundout to tally the first run of the game.
- Epperson recorded her first two career RBI with an infield single to open a 3-0 first inning lead for North Texas.
- In the second inning, Christensen deposited her first extra-base hit of the season, driving in Sparks and Cobb with a double to right center to widen the UNT lead to 5-0.
- Outfielder Molly Rainey led off the fourth inning with a solo home run to left field for a 6-0 advantage.
- Peters and the Mean Green defense retired the side, in order, in four of five innings to hold the Red Flash scoreless.
- Epperson and Nicholson opened the fifth with consecutive singles before senior Saleen Donohoe drove them in with a double down the left field line to end the game by run rule.
NOTES
- North Texas won both of its opening games for the second-consecutive season, defeating Tulsa and Texas Southern last season.
- Cobb moved into the UNT career record books in three offensive categories on Friday. She is now first in on-base percentage at .448, second in batting average at .368 and sixth in slugging at .582. Cobb entered the season six at-bats short of the minimum 200 required to enter the list.
- Christensen led the team offensively with a 4-6 performance at the plate with two runs, three RBI and a double. She also collected two caught stealings from behind the plate after finishing last season with only eight starts at catcher.
UP NEXT
North Texas faces day two of the Buzz Classic with matchups against UConn at 10:30 a.m. CT and hosts Georgia Tech at 3:30 p.m. CT on Saturday. Both games can be seen live on ACC Network Extra.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wagoner, McKenzie (1-0)
L: Gomez (0-1)
Batting:
2B: Santiago 1 ; Walker 1
Base Running:
CS: Ingles 1 ; Santiago 1
Batting:
HR: Cobb, Lexi 1
RBI: Cobb, Lexi 1 ; Gamble, Kailey 1 ; Christensen, Kalei 1 ; Truitt, Katy 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Cobb, Lexi 1 ; Rainey, Molly 1 ; Sparks, Tatum 1 ; Gamble, Kailey 1 ; Christensen, Kalei 1
SB: Rainey, Molly 1
CS: Olguin, Mikaela 1
Game Leaders
Hitting
AB
2
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
2
RBI
1
AB
3
R
1
H
1
RBI
0
Players Mentioned
RHP
/ SoftballC
/ Softball
IF
/ Softball
UT
/ Softball
IF
/ SoftballIF
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UT
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OF
/ Softball
LHP
/ SoftballOF
/ Softball
UT
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OF
/ Softball
RHP
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