Mean Green softball splits opening doubleheader
Reece Waddell / Staff Writer
The Mean Green softball team opened up its season and the North Texas Invitational with a home double header on Friday against Seton Hall University and Texas Southern University, going 1-1 in the two games.
Seton Hall
The Mean Green team (1-1 ) dropped the first of its doubleheader games against Seton Hall Friday afternoon 2-1.
Freshman Monique Garcia pitched a complete game for North Texas but gave up a two-run home run to Seton Hall when senior starting pitcher Danielle Destaso sent one down the right field line. As it turned out, that would be all the Pirates needed to beat the Mean Green.
“We had every opportunity but couldn’t get a timely hit to save our life,” head coach Tracey Kee said. “Give credit to Seton Hall.”
North Texas scored its only run on a throwing error in the bottom of the first inning when sophomore shortstop Kelli Schkade came around to score.
“Sometimes you just come out the gates and stumble, which is what happened to us.” Kee said.
Texas Southern
North Texas rebounded quickly, and defeated Texas Southern University 10-6 in the nightcap of its doubleheader.
The Mean Green went down 3-0 early against Texas Southern, but the bats quickly came to life when junior left fielder Taylor Schoblocher hit the first of her two home runs to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the third inning.
“Every year I try and work on my power. I saw the ball pretty well tonight.” Schoblocher said.
After falling behind 4-3 in the bottom of the third, North Texas exploded for six runs on five hits when Schoblocher muscled her second home run of the night over the left field wall. The Mean Green never relinquished its lead.
Junior second baseman Karly Williams made a nice diving double play in the bottom of the fourth inning that prevented two runs from scoring.
“They were hitting the ball pretty hard tonight,so I just tried to knock it down.” Williams said.
North Texas only surrendered one more run the rest of the way, with sophomore pitcher Stacey Underwood earning her first career victory in a Mean Green uniform.
“I give Stacey Underwood all the credit in the world. She’s only been on this campus for two months and she came out here tonight and pitched extremely well.” Kee said.
Kee said the win against Texas Southern showcased a lot of positives for the Mean Green.
“Our biggest strength in our depth,” Kee said. “We have a lot of guys that can do different things on this team. So yes, our goal is to win Conference USA but our ultimate goal is to make it to the NCAA tournament.”
The North Texas Invitational will continue Saturday afternoon with another doubleheader. The team will play Boise State University at 2:30 and have a rematch with Seton Hall at 4:30.
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