San Antonio, Texas (2/27/10) - Mariza Martinez hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the seventh inning to give the North Texas softball team a 5-4 victory against UTSA on Saturday afternoon at Roadrunner Field. The Mean Green lost the second game of the day, 8-5, to UC Riverside.
The Mean Green is now 4-5 overall and 2-1 in the UTSA Tournament. UTSA falls to 3-10, while UC Riverside improves to 4-8.
North Texas held two leads in the opening game, but UTSA responded both times to tie the game. Martinez's first home run of the season broke a 4-4 tie. It has continued to rain home runs for the Mean Green as North Texas hit three more home runs in the victory against the Roadrunners.
It was UCR who hit the winning home run in the second game. Taylor Thomas broke a 5-5 tie in the bottom of the seventh with a three-run homer to win the game for the Highlanders.
The home run in the Mean Green win was Martinez's first hit of the tournament. She knocked in the Mean Green's first four runs in the loss to UCR with a single in the first inning and her second triple of the season in the second inning.
Jennifer Smith (1-2) picked up her first win of the season after coming in to relieve starter Ashley Lail. Smith gave up two hits in three scoreless innings of work in the first game. In the second game, Smith took the loss after relieving starter Brittany Simmons.
In the opening game against UTSA, Lisa Johnson hit her team-leading fourth home run in the bottom of the second to give North Texas an early 1-0 lead. After UTSA tied the game in the top of the third off a Mean Green error, Mallory Cantler posted an RBI single to put North Texas back ahead. Megan Rupp scored from third after reaching base with a single, stole second and took third on a Martinez groundout.
Renae Bromley added herself to the Mean Green home run hitters this weekend with a two-run shot in the bottom of the fourth inning. The rightfielder's second home run of the season extended NT's lead to 4-1. Amber Miller scored on the home run, reaching base with a pinch-hit walk.
Caitlyn Ivy tied the game for UTSA, 4-4, with a three-run homer in the top of the fifth.
Johnson went 2-for-3 in the opening game with a solo home run and a double. She has hit home runs in consecutive days. The sophomore drew a walk with the bases loaded in the second game, tying the game at 5-5 in the sixth inning.
North Texas held a 4-0 lead in the second game of the day before UCR came back to tie and then take the lead. NT left 10 runners stranded on base.
There have been eight home runs hit this weekend by seven different Mean Green players.
The Mean Green finishes up play in the UTSA Tournament with games at 10 am and 12 pm on Sunday, Feb. 28.
