DENTON – For the first time in program history, Mean Green softball is a conference champion.
 
With a 6-2 win over Middle Tennessee Sunday afternoon, the Mean Green (34-17, 19-5) secured a share of the Conference USA Championship with Louisiana Tech.  

But at the conclusion of Sunday's game in Denton, the Mean Green rushed the field dogpiling in the infield and soaking head coach Rodney DeLong with the Gatorade celebrating as C-USA Co-Champions. After taking the regular season series with LA Tech the Mean Green will be the No. 1 seed in the Air Force Reserve Conference USA Championship. 
 
"We set a goal," DeLong said. "We performed really well in our final series to give ourselves a chance. Hope had a great performance today. We hit it better. It's great."
 
Hope Trautwein got the start pitching a second complete game in as many days. She allowed just two runs on six hits, striking out five. Trautwein finishes the regular season with 15 complete games a new career high. Team batting average leader Katie Clark went 2-for-4 in the win scoring twice while freshman Tayla Evans went 3-for-3 driving in a run.
 
Senior Hannah Gerecke drove in a run on senior day. Fellow senior Sally Gastelo did as well, driving in a run on one hit going 1-for-3.
 
"Our whole deal is sound fundamentals and a blue-collar work ethic," DeLong said. "We play easy, we keep it loose. If anything they're free to play and I think that is very important."
 
Gerecke opened the scoring with an RBI single to left in the first. Lacy Gregory then doubled home two runs in the third before Evans drove Gregory home to make it 4-0. The scoring continued in the third with Gastelo's RBI base knock for 5-0.
 
Senior Harley Perella rounded out the scoring with a sac-fly to foul territory in left field.
 
Lexi Cushing drove in both runs for MTSU (27-26, 11-13). She singled home a run in the third before hitting a solo homer to left center in the sixth.
 
The Mean Green have secured the No. 1 seed in the Air Force Reserve C-USA Softball Championship hosted by UAB May 8-11. Tickets are available online.
 
"This is huge," DeLong said. "To get here this fast, it's something to build on, something to grow on. It will motivate us in the offseason. This is huge for us."