North Texas Daily

On the opening night of the season, and the Mardi Gras Classic in Monroe, Louisiana, North Texas dropped both of their games against the University of Louisiana at Monroe and the University of Central Arkansas.

While the Mean Green put up 14 runs in the two games, a total of seven errors on the night proved to be costly for North Texas (0-2).

“If you would’ve asked me at the beginning of the season what our biggest strength is, I would’ve definitely said that it’s our defense,” head coach Tracey Kee said. “Tonight, our defense just imploded and I’m highly disappointed.”

Lousiana Monroe 12, North Texas 10

Kee pitched one of her highly touted trio of freshman pitchers, Maria Priest, to take the mound in the Mean Green’s season opener.

However, things went south quickly for the young starter. Priest only lasted two innings after giving up eight runs to a big swinging ULM offense before freshman pitcher Hope Trautwein came in in relief.

The Warhawks were not the only ones with the big bats though.

Sophomore outfielder Lacy Gregory lived up to the preseason accolades in game one, with a huge 4–for-4, two homerun and eight RBI performance. The eight RBI’s break a North Texas school record for the most RBI’s in a single game.

“Lacy is just a tough out,” Kee said.”She doesn’t try to do too much when she’s up there. She just swings the bat and that’s what makes her special.”

Gregory didn’t wait long to get things started, as she ripped double to bring in her twin sister, Lindsay, to give the Mean Green and early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. She didn’t slow down there, as she drove in three more runs on another double the next inning.

Sophomore outfielder Hannah Rebar did not wait long to get in on the action, hitting a solo home run just two batters later.

Lacy topped off her big night with a solo home run and three run home run in her next two at bats to set the school record for most RBI’s in a single game.

In the end, the big bats of the Mean Green were not enough to overcome the four errors that led to four different runs for ULM.

Central Arkansas 5, North Texas 4

After getting taking out early in the first game, Priest would get her redemption as she was the one to enter in relief this time around after Trautwein started the game going 2.2 and giving up two runs.

And Priest bounced back.

Priest shut out the Central Arkansas lineup all the way up until the bottom of the seventh.

At the time, the Mean Green had a clean defensive game with no errors on the board, but that all changed in the final frame.

After walking the lead off hitter, Lindsay would attempt to make a play on a slow ball to her at shortstop, but then threw the ball low to first base and to the back stop, allowing the runners to advance to second and third.

Another error would drive in two more Central Arkansas runners to tie the game. Not long after, a sacrifice fly would give the Lady Bears the walk-off victory.

Lacy continued her big day at the plate for North Texas, as she was responsible for two of the Mean Green’s four runs with a two run double early in the game that gave the girls the 4-2 lead at the time.

“I think in the first game we just tried to play the game way too fast in our heads,” Kee said. “Maria and the rest of the team did a much better job of doing that in the second game, but we just couldn’t finish it off.”

Next up: North Texas will look to bounce back and get its first win of the year against Tennessee-Martin Friday at 1 p.m.

Featured image: In the 3rd inning Freshman Lacy Gregory (6) makes contact before running to 1st base.