University of North Texas
34-21, 17-8
No. 2 UAB
29-24, 16-9
Gamble Delivers Late-Inning Heroics in Softball Win
5/11/2023 10:08:00 PM | Softball
RUSTON, La. – Kailey Gamble connected for a sixth inning three-run home run as UNT softball defeated UAB 3-2 in the Conference USA Championship quarterfinal at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field on Thursday.
"[Kailey] Gamble's home run was huge," head coach Rodney DeLong said. "Great players make big plays in tough games and that was another example. Also another tough win for this group. Ashley [Peters] and [McKenzie] Wagoner kept us in the game and we played great defense."
North Texas (34-21, 16-8) picked up its eighth win in the past nine games and second consecutive one-run victory. The Mean Green leveled its season series with UAB (29-24, 16-8) a two game apiece.
Peters (W, 14-8) struck out two over 5 2/3 innings in the circle. She allowed two runs on six hits and two walks.
Wagoner (SV, 2) entered the game with two runners on base in the sixth inning and escaped with a ground out. She closed the game with a foul pop out with two runners on base.
Lexi Cobb and Cierra Simon set the table for Gamble in the sixth with back-to-back singles. Cobb also stole her 21st base of the season to match Simon for the second-most in UNT history.
UP NEXT
The Mean Green are set to play No. 1 Charlotte in the semifinal of the conference tournament on Friday at noon CT on ESPN+ at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
UNT trails the all-time series 6-8 with a 1-1 mark in postseason play including a 6-3 victory in last season's C-USA quarterfinal.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Peters, Ashley (13-8)
L: Leigha Kirby (6-9)
S: Wagoner, McKenzie (2)
Batting:
HR: Gamble, Kailey 1
RBI: Gamble, Kailey 3
Base Running:
RUNS: Cobb, Lexi 1 ; Simon, Cierra 1 ; Gamble, Kailey 1
SB: Simon, Cierra 1
HBP: Gamble, Kailey 1
Batting:
2B: Makenzie Droddy 1
3B: Bella Wiggins 1
RBI: Sierra Frazier 1 ; Makenzie Droddy 1
SH: Olivia Valbak 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Bella Wiggins 1 ; Kaily Collett 1
SB: Makenna Cortez 1
