North Texas Daily

Alex Lessard / Staff Writer

The Mean Green softball team lost the final game of the North Texas Invitational 10-3 against Boise State University Sunday afternoon.

Boise State (3-2) got off to a quick start at the plate, scoring four runs on seven hits off Mean Green (2-3) sophomore pitcher Stacey Underwood to build a 4-0 lead after two innings.

“I’m not throwing all my pitches right now, so I’m kind of limited,” Underwood said.

North Texas responded in the bottom of the third with two runs on only one hit. Bronco pitchers Sarah Barnes and Nicole Wilson combined for two walks and two hit batters in the inning.

Mean Green head coach Tracey Kee was ejected from game in the bottom of the fourth after coming onto the field to argue a bang-bang play at first base. The North Texas crowd continued to express its disagreement with calls from home plate umpire Terry Hunt for the remainder of the game.

“That’s the nicest I’ve ever been to an umpire to get wrung out,” Kee said.

Boise State was held to a scoreless inning in the fifth for the first time in the game. The inning ended on a double play from right fielder Spencer Farrell, who gunned down a runner at home for her second outfield assist of the game.

“This is the first time she’s played in right field this year, so it’s good to see that happen,” junior utility Taylor Schoblocher said.

The Bronco offense had the upper hand on senior pitcher Madison Thompson in the sixth inning, scoring three runs in the sixth inning after getting six batters to reach base to go up 10-3.

Schoblocher started off the season blistering hot, hitting a nation-leading six home runs in her first 11 at-bats with a 2.364 slugging percentage. Boise State strategically pitched around her the entire game, as she finished today’s game 0 for 1 with a sacrifice fly, a walk and a hit by pitch.

Meanwhile, this is the second straight game that North Texas has given up 10 or more runs. Kee said part of the reason for the struggles is throwing too hard.

“When you overthrow, the ball flattens out and gets hit very hard,” Kee said.

The Mean Green will begin a month-long road trip on Friday beginning with the Arizona State Littlewood Classic in Tempe, Arizona. North Texas will open up the tournament with a doubleheader against Illinois State University at 4:45 p.m. and Arizona State University at 7 p.m.