University of North Texas
5-1
Southern Illinois
1-6
Softball Splits Friday
2/14/2025 6:07:00 PM | Softball
STARKVILLE, Miss. – Senior RHP Skylar Savage led UNT softball to a 4-3 win over Southern Illinois before it fell to No. 19 Mississippi State 14-5 in five innings on Friday at Nusz Park.
In game one, Savage (W, 2-0) recorded her second complete-game win of the season with seven strikeouts over seven innings of work against the Salukis (1-6). This season, the Mean Green (5-2) have won in each of Savage's five appearances in the circle.
By utilizing a patient approach at the plate and smart baserunning, Southern Illinois took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning before North Texas roared back in the third. With one out and the bases loaded, second baseman Cierra Simon cleared the bases with a three-run double before she scored on an error later in the frame.
With two outs in the fifth inning, the Salukis scored two additional runs before Savage quieted the opposing bats as she retired seven of the final eight batters she faced. Her seven strikeouts matched her season-high mark while she moved into a tie for sixth place on the UNT career victories list with former teammate, Ashley Peters (2022-23), at 34.
In game two, Mississippi State (6-1) jumped out to a six-run lead in the second before the Mean Green offense came to life with two runs in the third and three in the fourth. Junior Riley McNemar started the rally with a one-out single in the third and would later score when Simon tallied an RBI single. Later in the inning, Simon would cross the plate for her team-leading 10th run scored of the season.
Down 6-2 with two runners on and two outs in the fourth inning, McNemar would battle in a 12-pitch at bat that concluded with an RBI single. Her single marked the first multi-hit game of her career and first RBI as a member of the Mean Green.
Tatum Sparks cut the lead to 6-5 with a two-run single up the middle which brought Madison Conley and McNemar home.
Starting pitcher Anneca Anderson (L, 3-2) gave up six runs, three earned, over 1 1/3 innings with one strikeout.
NEXT UP
The Mean Green face Southern Illinois in day two at The Snowman: Alex Wilcox Memorial presented by Newk's Eatery on Saturday at 9 a.m. from Nusz Park.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Savage, Skylar (2-0)
L: M. Newcomb (1-3)
Batting:
2B: A. Carder 1
RBI: A. Carder 2 ; A. Knutson 1
Base Running:
RUNS: Blomenkamp 1 ; E. Austin 1 ; C. Pursley 1
SB: E. Austin 1 ; C. Pursley 1
CS: E. Austin 1
Batting:
2B: Simon, Cierra 1
RBI: Simon, Cierra 3
SH: Moffitt, Elizabeth 1 ; Platt, Taylor 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Sparks, Tatum 1 ; Simon, Cierra 1 ; McNemar, Blayze 1 ; Platt, Taylor 1
