University of North Texas
1-0
Utah Tech
1-2
Childers Records Opening Day Shutout in Softball Split
2/9/2024 11:00:00 PM | Softball
TUCSON, Ariz. – RV UNT softball split its opening day action at Hillenbrand Stadium on Friday with a 7-0 win over Utah Tech before an 8-0 loss in five innings to RV Arizona.
Mackenzie Childers (W, 1-0) led the Mean Green (1-1) over Utah Tech (1-2) after she recorded her first career complete-game shutout. She also collected a career-high mark of 12 strikeouts which set the program record for the most in a season opener. Childers is the first player to tally double-digit strikeouts since Ashley Peters recorded 11 versus Charlotte on April 15, 2023.
Molly Rainey opened the scoring against the Trailblazers with a two-run home run in the third inning before Rylee Nicholson, Elizabeth Moffitt, Tatum Sparks and Kat Ibarra each added solo shots. North Texas tied the third-best mark in program history with five home runs and set the single-game high for an opening day contest.
Ibarra featured as the leadoff hitter in her first game with the Mean Green and finished with a game-high three hits, two extra-base hits. Moffitt also made her UNT debut and reached base twice while recording 12 putouts behind the plate.
North Texas ended its night with an 8-0 loss in five innings to hosts Arizona (3-0) for its first shutout loss since April 23, 2023, at Missouri. Starting pitcher Skylar Savage (L, 0-1) suffered the loss after she gave up five earned runs over 2.2 innings. McKenzie Wagoner made her season debut with zero earned runs over 2.0 innings pitched and one strikeout.
Lexi Cobb and Cierra Simon each collected a hit in the nightcap to extend their on-base streaks from last season to eight and six games, respectively.
UP NEXT
UNT returns to Hillenbrand Stadium on Saturday at noon CT against Utah Tech before a 5 p.m. CT rematch with Arizona.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Childers, Mackenzie (1-0)
L: Attlyn Johnston (0-1)
Batting:
SH: Brooklyn Dowdle 1
Batting:
2B: Ibarra, Kat 1
HR: Ibarra, Kat 1 ; Rainey, Molly 1 ; Sparks, Tatum 1 ; Nicholson, Rylee 1 ; Moffitt, Elizabeth 1
RBI: Ibarra, Kat 1 ; Cobb, Lexi 1 ; Rainey, Molly 2 ; Sparks, Tatum 1 ; Nicholson, Rylee 1 ; Moffitt, Elizabeth 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Ibarra, Kat 1 ; Cobb, Lexi 1 ; Rainey, Molly 1 ; Sparks, Tatum 1 ; Nicholson, Rylee 1 ; Moffitt, Elizabeth 1 ; Simon, Cierra 1
