DENTON – North Texas softball suffered its first defeat of the fall schedule to a strong Oklahoma State team, falling 4-1. The Cowgirls struck for four runs on eight hits while the Mean Green picked up a run in the first inning, amassing four hits. North Texas is now 4-1 this fall. 
 
Hanna Rebar drove in the Mean Green's lone run. Hope Trautwein and Bailey Tindell both pitched four innings, with Trautwein getting the start. She struck out three, allowing a run on two hits. Tindell struck out three as well, surrendering three runs on five hits. Freshman Ariel Thompson pitched two innings, striking out four allowing just one hit to the team from her home state.
 
"I am really pleased with our pitching," head coach Rodney DeLong said. "Our defense too. We made one mistake, and they capitalized on it. Our pitchers did really well, pounded the strike zone and changed up their speeds. It's definitely a good sign of things to come. Today was a good test for us, and our pitchers really stood up."
 
The Cowgirls finished 2019 season in second in the Big 12, going 13-5 in conference play and 45-17 overall. North Texas and Oklahoma State faced off in the regular season in Stillwater, a 6-0 win for the Cowgirls. Next up, North Texas faces another stiff test in No. 2 Oklahoma on the road Wednesday at 6 p.m. The Sooners fell in the Women's College World Series Finals 2-0 to National Champions UCLA. It is the lone road game of the fall.
 
"From day one I want this program to become an elite type program, and we can," DeLong said. "We've got to change the mindset, and get in here and play these top type teams. We have to learn to compete with them, and it's a big mental challenge. I feel like our kids stepped up today mentally, and we'll see what happens on Wednesday."