Wichita, Kan. (4/5/05) - Katie McGeeney hit a grand slam in the bottom of the seventh inning to give Wichita State a 5-2 come-from-behind victory over North Texas in softball action on Tuesday afternoon at Wilkins Stadium.
The Mean Green (7-20) lost its sixth straight game, its longest streak without a win this season. Wichita State improves to 26-11 and 6-0 in the series against the Mean Green.
Freshman Kristina Fowler (5-9) took the loss for the Mean Green after relieving Katy Maxey in the bottom of the fifth inning with the game tied, 1-1. Maxey allowed one run off four hits, while striking out three Shockers in her first start on the mound since a 5-1 loss to Wichita State on March 4. Lindsay Craig won her 12th game of the season for Wichita State. She struck out 10 Mean Green batters.
Fowler pitched out of a jam in the fifth inning, striking out a batter and forcing a flyout with two runners on base. Wichita State started off the sixth inning with a single but was unable to get any more runners on base. In the seventh inning, the Shockers loaded the bases for McGeeney with a double, a walk and a hit by pitch.
Sophomore Christen Jonse put North Texas on the scoreboard first with a solo home run in the top of the second inning. The long ball was Jonse’s second of the season. The Shockers tied the score, 1-1, in the bottom of the third with two singles. With runners on second and third, Erin Peters hit into a fielder’s choice but was able to knock in a run on the play.
Junior Katie Pauley scored North Texas’ second run of the game, giving the Mean Green a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh. Pauley pinch ran for senior Stephanie Cranmer who started off the inning with a single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Sophomore Susan Waters singled, and Pauley scored on a fielding error.
Sophomore Maureen Kelley posted her first hit of the season with a two-out single in the fifth inning. Kelley started her first game of the season.
North Texas returns home to open conference play on April 9 and 10 against Florida International. The first doubleheader on Saturday begins at 1 pm.
