University of North Texas
31-23
Memphis
6-44
Softball Topples Memphis at AAC Championship
5/8/2024 4:43:00 PM | Softball
WICHITA, Kan. – UNT softball defeated Memphis 7-1 on Wednesday at Wilkins Stadium to advance to the quarterfinals of the American Athletic Conference Championship.
"I'm glad to get that game out of the way," head coach Rodney DeLong said. "[You can] put a weird pressure on yourself when you feel like you are supposed to win a game. We got that one out of the way and hope to come back and play a little looser tomorrow."
North Texas (31-23, 17-10) swept the season series over Memphis (6-43, 1-26) primarily due to a four-run fourth inning including a pair of two-run doubles from Kat Ibarra and Lexi Cobb. The Tigers took a first inning lead after recording a pair of walks and an RBI single by Zoe Adebayo.
Mikayla Smith would tie the game on her 12th home run off the season despite strong winds blowing in from center field. Smith is tied for the ninth-most career home runs in program history with 27.
McKenzie Wagoner (W, 13-7) entered the game in the first inning after starting pitcher Mackenzie Childers walked the game's first batter. Wagoner allowed zero runs on three hits and three walks over seven innings pitched with six strikeouts.
Designated player Kalei Christensen posted an RBI double in the sixth inning to score Ibarra after she led off with a walk. The No. 5-9 batters in the Mean Green order accounted for all six of the hits and RBI in the game.
UNT improved to 7-7 in first round conference tournament games with DeLong tallying his second of his career in Denton.
UP NEXT
The Mean Green will meet No. 7 East Carolina on Thursday at noon from Wilkins Stadium. For more information on the 2024 American Athletic Conference Softball Championship, click HERE.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Wagoner, McKenzie (13-7)
L: R. Dugar (2-16)
Batting:
RBI: Z. Adebayo 1
Base Running:
RUNS: K. Semien 1
Batting:
2B: Ibarra, Kat 1 ; Christensen, Kalei 1 ; Cobb, Lexi 1
HR: Smith, Mikayla 1
RBI: Smith, Mikayla 1 ; Ibarra, Kat 2 ; Christensen, Kalei 1 ; Cobb, Lexi 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Gamble, Kailey 1 ; Grahmann, Emma 1 ; Smith, Mikayla 2 ; Sparks, Tatum 1 ; Ibarra, Kat 2
CS: Rainey, Molly 1 ; Sparks, Tatum 1
