April 25, 2015
(G1) BOX SCORE: LA Tech 3, North Texas 0(G2) BOX SCORE: LA Tech 4, North Texas 1Season StatisticsRUSTON, La. -- Despite two solid pitching performances, North Texas couldn't find the offensive support it needed to succeed in a critical series with Conference USA postseason hopes on the line. The Mean Green, with only one total run on Saturday, fell to Louisiana Tech in game one, 3-0, before also dropping game two, 4-1.
Saturday's opening game provided very little fireworks, as freshman pitcher
Monique Garcia found herself in the middle of a pitcher's duel. Although she was tagged with the loss, Garcia only allowed six hits and three earned runs in a six-inning complete game effort.
LA Tech took advantage of North Texas's inability to get a base hit until the third inning, jumping out to a 2-0 lead in the second by way of two singles, a Mean Green error and a sacrifice fly. The Lady Techsters added an insurance run in the sixth by way of a one-out solo home run that just snuck out of reach from
Taylor Schoblocher down the left field line, providing the final margin.
After allowing LA Tech to strike early and take a 1-0 lead in the first inning of game two, North Texas showed a glimmer of promise in the second by responding with a run of its own to tie things up. With two outs and senior
Dani Hoff on first base after a single, head coach
Tracey Kee relayed signs in for a two-strike hit-and-run and
Karly Williams delivered big time. The junior second baseman sent a line drive to the gap in right center for a double, allowing Hoff to score all the way from first.
As has been a trend all season, the opponent long ball haunted North Texas in game two. After pitching a gem through four, sophomore
Stacey Underwood finally allowed the big blow in the form of a two-out, two-strike three-run blast in the bottom of the fifth.
In a slightly improved offensive effort, the Mean Green picked up six hits but stranded left six potential runs on the base paths. North Texas' best chance to do damage came in the bottom of the third when two singles by
Spencer Ferrell and
Mallory Land were followed by a two-out intentional walk to
Taylor Schoblocher. However, the bases were left loaded with no harm done to LA Tech.
Next Up: North Texas will look to salvage one win out of a tough weekend tomorrow in game three at Louisiana Tech. First pitch on Sunday is scheduled to come at 1:00 p.m. CT following the Lady Techster's senior day festivities.
Quick Hits:
- Junior second baseman Karly Williams had herself a day, despite the two losses. Williams went 3 for 5 (.600) with a double and an RBI for .800 slugging and .600 on base.
- Although both were in losing efforts, pitchers Monique Garcia and Stacey Underwood showed their endurance on Saturday by going the distance in their respective starts. The complete games were the fourth and third, respectively, on the season for the two.
- After previously recording eight hits individually in each of the last two games prior to this weekend (vs. UTSA, at #5 OU), North Texas only recorded eight total hits in two games combined against LA Tech on Saturday.
