University of North Texas
11-12, 1-0
Charlotte
17-5, 0-1
Softball Splits Conference Opener
3/7/2025 11:02:00 PM | Softball
DENTON, Texas – UNT softball split Friday's doubleheader against Charlotte with a 5-4 victory in game one and 8-7 loss in game two from Lovelace Stadium.
Junior Tatum Sparks shined as she matched her career high with three hits in both games, including a pair of solo home runs and a double in game one. She became the 11th player in program history to collect 10 or more total bases and is the first to accomplish the feat since Hanna Rebar (2017-20) tallied four hits, including two home runs, at Oklahoma on Feb. 29, 2020.
The Mean Green (17-6, 1-1) moved to 6-2 in one-run games this season with head coach Rodney DeLong collecting his 50th one-run win at UNT in game one. The 49ers (12-12, 1-1) fought back in both contests as it erased a five-run deficit in the fifth inning of game two.
In game one, Anneca Anderson (W, 8-2) threw six innings with four strikeouts before Skylar Savage (SV, 3) recorded the final three outs including a strikeout to end the game. With her 10th career save, Savage became the second player in program history with double-digit saves as she joined Hope Trautwein (2018-21) who finished her UNT career with 15 saves.
Kailyn Bearpaw recorded her fifth multi-RBI game of the season as she finished 2-for-3 with two RBI in the opener while Riley McNemar knocked in two RBI in the nightcap.
In game two, freshman Taylor Platt registered three hits and added one run scored and a stolen base. She is the first true freshman with a three-plus hit game since current teammate Cierra Simon finished 3-for-4 at Kansas on April 22, 2022.
Additionally, Simon posted three hits in game two with a run scored and one stolen base while dazzling at second base with a highlight reel double play in the seventh inning.
Savage (L, 7-3) tallied five strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings of the evening contest before she turned the ball over to Kayleigh Smith who allowed only one base runner over the final 2 2/3 innings.
After singles from Ausha Moore and Platt in the bottom of the seventh inning, the Mean Green placed the game-tying and winning runs on the bases with one out but were unable to score either player.
UP NEXT
North Texas meets Charlotte for the rubber match at noon Sunday on ESPN+ from Lovelace Stadium.
For the duration of the 2025 season, fans are encouraged to utilize Walt Parker Road as the primary route to access parking near Lovelace Stadium as South Bonnie Brae Street will be closed at Airport Road. Click HERE for details about parking for the 2025 season and HERE for updates on the exciting new Softball Clubhouse project.
Team Stats
Pitching:
W: Anderson, Anneca (8-2)
L: B.Bowling (5-3)
S: Savage, Skylar (3)
Batting:
2B: L.Dirks 1 ; S.Nguyen 1
HR: S.Nguyen 1
RBI: J.Lord 1 ; S.Nguyen 2 ; A.Lund 1
Base Running:
RUNS: O.Williams 1 ; L.Dirks 2 ; S.Nguyen 1
SB: J.Lord 1
PO: L.Dirks 1
Batting:
2B: Sparks, Tatum 1 ; Conley, Madison 1
HR: Sparks, Tatum 2
RBI: Sparks, Tatum 2 ; Nicholson, Rylee 1 ; Bearpaw, Kailyn 2
Base Running:
RUNS: Sparks, Tatum 3 ; Simon, Cierra 1 ; Nicholson, Rylee 1
SB: Simon, Cierra 1
