Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 WACO – The Mean Green's five-game unbeaten run came to an end as North Texas dropped both games in a Friday doubleheader to open the Baylor Invitational.
 
The Mean Green (8-3) faced Kent State, falling 6-0 before a game with the hosts, #21 Baylor. A late North Texas rally fell short against the Bears as the Mean Green stranded runners on the corners.
 
Baylor (8-4) won the second game, 5-2. North Texas head coach Rodney DeLong knew the weekend would be challenging for his squad.

"We've definitely got to play better tomorrow," DeLong said. "I don't think we were real sharp. I think there was some doubt today. I don't like that. We let one pitch or one at bat affect us today. You've got to have a short memory in this game. We will, we'll get better."
 
Kent State 6, North Texas 0
 
The Mean Green bats struggled against Andrea Scali, who has yet to allow a run this season for the Golden Flashes (4-3). Scali went the full seven innings, allowing just one hit to Lacy Gregory – a double in the seventh. Scali struck out 12 and walked just one.
 
After a short rain delay in the fourth inning, Kent State added three more runs in the sixth after a three-run third to reach the final score.
 
"She threw a great game," DeLong said. "And that's just the way it goes. Both teams had to play in the weather."
 
Jenna Goodrich and Bailey Tindell split the work on the mound for North Texas with Goodrich getting the start. She gave up 10 runs on six hits while striking out six before Tindell finished off the game with a scoreless and hitless 1.2 innings.
 
#21 Baylor 5, North Texas 2
 
North Texas struck first against the Bears as Katie Clark started the game with a hard single before stealing second. She then scored on a base hit from Hanna Rebar. But the Mean Green would not score again before the final inning when Gregory drove home Hannah Gerecke on an infield single.

The Bears hit two home runs for all its runs. A three-run home run to left in the sixth and a two-run shot in the fourth was enough to get the Bears across the line. Hope Trautwein was handed her first loss of 2019 dropping to 4-1.
 
"We will come out and compete tomorrow," DeLong said. "We get another opportunity tomorrow. We will likely play a top ten team in the country [Louisiana-Lafayette] twice. We are trying to improve and get better. We are trying to grow and get better, this tournament will definitely prepare us."

The Mean Green return to action at 10 a.m. Saturday against #10 Louisiana-Lafayette.