Mean Green Softball Defeats No. 15 Texas
Courtesy: University of North Texas
Release: 03/16/2010

Denton, Texas (3/16/10) - Behind solid defense and stellar pitching, the North Texas softball team defeated No. 15 Texas, 1-0, on Tuesday afternoon at Lovelace Stadium.

The Mean Green improves to 10-9, while 15th-ranked Texas (20-4) loses its fourth game of the season. North Texas defeated the Longhorns for the first time in eight attempts.

In front of a record crowd, the Mean Green defeated Texas without posting a single hit. Freshman Blair Luna threw the second no-hitter of her career for Texas. She pitched six innings and gave up just one earned run in her third loss of the season, while striking out 10 Mean Green batters.

"It feels great to beat a team the caliber of Texas," said head coach T.J. Hubbard. "It feels even better knowing that we executed on defense and in the circle. Even though we didn't get a hit, I am proud of how our team battled."

Ashley Lail earned the win for North Texas, improving to 4-3 in the circle. She pitched 3.2 innings after relieving Jennifer Smith in the fourth inning. Smith and Lail combined for the shutout. Each pitcher allowed just four hits.

Luna's only miscues came in the fourth inning when she walked two batters and threw two wild pitches. Mallory Cantler started off the fourth for the Mean Green by drawing a walk. Anna Barren came on as a pinch runner and advanced to second on a wild pitch and to third on a fly ball to right field by Mariza Martinez. Barren scored the Mean Green's only run off another wild pitch by Luna.

Martinez stole a run from Texas in the first inning when she reached over the outfield fence to catch a potential home run ball from Amy Hooks.

In the fifth inning, Lail pitched out a bases-loaded jam. The senior hit the first batter and then allowed a walk and a single to load the bases. After a pop-up to the second baseman, Lail fielded a grounder hit straight to her and threw out the runner at first to end the inning.

In the seventh inning with runners at first and second and two outs, shortstop Lesley Hirsch fumbled a grounder hit deep in the hole but was able to throw out the Texas runner at home plate to seal the win for the Mean Green.

Texas outhit the Mean Green, 8-0. The Longhorns left nine runners on base, while the Mean Green stranded six.

Congrats to UNT. Nice job.

(03-16-2010 06:49 PM)Hemi Man Wrote:  Congrats to UNT. Nice job.

Good job!

I would guess this is easily the biggest win in school history ( softball wise ) ?

Nice job UNT!!!

UNT softball is relatively new and having some success. I would think baseball would be successful very quickly, as well. With baseball being the most competitive sport in the Belt, it is high time the North Texicans started a program.

(03-17-2010 10:48 AM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  UNT softball is relatively new and having some success. I would think baseball would be successful very quickly, as well. With baseball being the most competitive sport in the Belt, it is high time the North Texicans started a program.

Patience. A new baseball stadium is part of the Mean Green Village complex master plan. Our football stadium (now under construction) comes first. Baseball stadium later.

hope baseball doesn't take as long as the football stadium

(03-17-2010 11:31 AM)KAjunRaider Wrote:  hope baseball doesn't take as long as the football stadium

We're kinda half way there with a pretty good club team.

Baseball

The Baseball Club has a very competitive schedule and competes in the Gulf Coast Conference of the National Collegiate Baseball Association. New players are welcome. The club practices twice per week. The club is open to all UNT students.

http://www.unt.edu/recsports/sportclubs/clubs.html

Congrats!!!
Can't wait for our 2 game series with you on April 14th! See you in Denton.