DENTON, Texas (4/17/11) - The North Texas softball team won the third and deciding game against ULM, 2-1, to give the Mean Green its first conference series win of the season on Sunday afternoon at Lovelace Stadium.
The Mean Green improves to 19-25 and 5-13 in the conference, while ULM falls to 24-19 and 10-8 in the Sun Belt. With its two wins against ULM, North Texas won its first conference series of the season.
Courtney Bradshaw tagged out Elise West at the plate, preventing the game-tying score for ULM and sealing the Mean Green victory. North Texas held a 2-0 lead until two-out singles by Melissa Rivera and West in the bottom of the seventh started a ULM rally. With runners on first and second, Samantha Riojas hit a double to left center that scored one run but a strong relay from Rupp to Lesley Hirsch to Bradshaw prevented the game-tying run to score.
Brittany Simmons picked up her 10th win of the season. She pitched her 15th complete game, allowing just one run off five hits. She struck out five and walked just one batter.
Megan Rupp had a standout game. She went 2-for-2, scored the game-winning run and prevented an extra-base hit with a jumping catch at the wall.
Back-to-back doubles by Bradshaw and Lesley Hirsch gave North Texas an early 1-0 lead in the second inning. With one out in the fifth, Rupp recorded her second double of the season to left field. After Brooke Foster drew a walk, Mariza Martinez brought home Rupp with a single to right field. The hit ended up being the gamewinner for the Mean Green.
Four of the Mean Green's seven hits were two-base hits. North Texas recorded eight doubles in the three-game series.
Martinez led the Mean Green offense with five RBI in three games. Mallory Cantler recorded a team-high five hits in the series.
North Texas returns to action on Tuesday, April 19 when the Mean Green travels to San Marcos to face Texas State at 5 p.m.
