Feb. 15, 2014
Sophomore Taylor Schoblocher hit a walk-off bomb in the bottom of the seventh to complete the comeback against (RV) Northern Iowa.
Season Statistics 
NT 8, Northern Iowa 6 Box
NT 9, Southern 1 Box Score
DENTON, Texas – The Mean Green softball crew powered past (RV) Northern Iowa in the bottom of the seventh frame off of a walk-off three-run home run by Taylor Schoblocher over the right-field wall, then smashed Southern in its second game of the afternoon to remain unbeaten in the Lovelace Invitational.
With the win, North Texas is now on a five-game winning streak as it heads into the Lovelace Invitational final round on Sunday, a rematch with Northern Iowa.
“The Northern Iowa game was the best game we’ve played this year,” head coach Tracey Kee said. “They jumped on us quickly, and it was a credit to our kids for hanging in there. Our kids gave great effort and great fight.”
Northern Iowa came out of the gates swinging and quickly put North Texas into a 5-0 hole. But the Mean Green clawed its way back in behind a couple of timely hits by Dani Hoff and Kat Strunk before the big play came in the bottom of the seventh.
Down by one, Schoblocher laced one over the extended glove of the Panther right fielder to propel the Mean Green to victory.
“It felt awesome,” Schoblocher said. “I’ve always been pretty good under pressure, and, when it came off the bat, it felt good.”
Along with the comeback, North Texas also got a strong performance from senior starting pitcher Ashley Kirk, who dug deep after allowing five earned in the top of the first inning and only one the rest of the way. She also struck out seven batters.
With the win, North Texas secured the number one seed in the Lovelace Invitational and played Southern, the number four seed.
The Mean Green won in convincing fashion, run-ruling the Jaguars, while also getting a complete-game outing from freshman pitcher Kenzie Grimes, who registered two hits and one earned run against 17 batters.
Freshmen Mallory Land (third base) and Shelbie Smith (catcher) also started against Southern. Jordan Terry, who started the game as the designated player, was responsible for most of the damage, knocking home three RBI.
North Texas finishes play in the Lovelace Invitational against Northern Iowa, which beat third-seeded Nicholls St. to advance to the final round, on Sunday at 11:30 a.m.
“If we can continue to play North Texas softball, swinging the bats, manufacturing runs when we have to, tightening up our defense and pitching well enough to keep us in ball games, then positive things will happen,” coach Kee concluded.
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