Softball drops third straight to UTSA to complete weekend sweep
North Texas freshman utility player Harley Parella (3) hits a ground ball into the dirt against Nicholls State during the Mean Green Spring Fling Tournament Dylan Nadwodny | Staff Photographer
Clay Massey | Staff Writer
Mean Green softball was in it right until the end on Sunday, much like Saturday, but a late 3-run home-run for University of Texas at San Antonio put the nail in the coffin.
UTSA (9-16) completed the sweep of the Mean Green (13-9) behind a strong pitching effort and more power from the bats carrying over from yesterday. Meanwhile, North Texas stranded 23 runners across the three games this weekend.
“I felt today was a must-win for us,” head coach Tracey Kee said. “You get weekends where you just cannot buy a timely hit, and that was pretty much how our entire weekend was.”
North Texas 1, UTSA 5
Junior southpaw Jessica Elder got the start after going 7.1 innings yesterday, throwing 6.0 innings today while allowing three strikeouts and five runs, four of which came in the sixth inning.
The late explosion from the Roadrunners came from two home runs off Elder, who also gave up three home runs yesterday in the opening game of the doubleheader.
“When it came down to it, they had to adjust to my pitching,” Elder said. “They definitely did that this weekend.”
North Texas got the lead-off runner on in five out of the first six innings but squandered most of its chances, only scoring once. North Texas stranded seven runners on the day, including leaving the bases loaded after loading them up with one out in the fourth.
UTSA struck first when senior infielder Tess Soefje homered to left. North Texas didn’t have an answer until the top of the sixth when senior catcher Bryana Wade flared a single to right score a run. Wade entered the ballgame hitting .214 with just seven RBIs.
“I think a big deal of what the freshman and transfers have to learn is that conference is no joke,” Wade said. “Even if you lose, you have to move on from it. We have more opportunities.”
The Roadrunners answered in the bottom half of the sixth when they got runners on the corners with just one out. A sac-fly by freshman first basemen Zoe Bacon gave UTSA a 2-1 lead, and then the dagger came with a three-run shot that hit the right field foul pole by junior Angelica Nino, her first home run of the season.
“I told these kids to let this fester in their stomach,” Kee said. “Your entire preseason means nothing at this point. I told them we are currently sitting at 0-3 and that we need to make adjustments and get back to work.”
The Mean Green return to action will continue its San Antonio road trip on Tuesday when it faces the University of the Incarnate Word at 3 p.m.
Featured Image: Freshman utility player Harley Parella (3) hits a ground ball into the dirt during the Mean Green Spring Fling Tournament. Dylan Nadwodny | Staff Photographer
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