Bowling Green, Ky. (4/18/09) The North Texas softball team exploded for four home runs to defeat Western Kentucky, 11-6, on Saturday afternoon at the WKU Softball Field. The Mean Green lost the first game of the doubleheader, 6-4.

The Mean Green improved to 25-22 overall and 11-9 in the conference, while WKU falls to 26-13 and 10-5. The 11 conference wins for the Mean Green is the most Sun Belt wins in school history.  WKU, however; took the season series with two wins out of three games. The Hilltoppers lead the all-time series, 13-11.

The Mean Green scored 11 runs on 16 hits in the third game of the series after scoring a combined five runs on seven hits in the first two games. North Texas came up just short in the first game of the doubleheader, 6-4, after coming back to tie the game at 4-4.

The 16 hits ties for third in school history for most hits in a single game, and the four home runs in a single game ties a school record. Jennifer Smith, Mariza Martinez, Sarah Jones and Kadie Platt all homered in the victory. The six home runs this weekend increases NT’s home run total to 44, which ties the school record for most home runs in a season.

WKU’s Ryan Rogge picked up her 20^th victory in the first game of the doubleheader. She held a one hitter before NT’s four-run sixth inning. She held the Mean Green to five runs and seven hits in the first two games.

Kayla Lawson picked up the victory for the Mean Green after relieving starter Ashley Lail. Lawson improves to 8-5 after holding WKU to four hits over 2.2 innings of work.

North Texas held early leads but needed a five-run seventh to seal the 11-6 win in the nightcap. Aided by three WKU errors and two big hits from the Mean Green, NT took a 4-0 lead in the first inning. Rebecca Waters posted an RBI double, and Jennifer Smith hit a three-run homer. The double was the 11^th of the season for Waters, and the home run was the fourth for Smith.

 Terri Ellingsworth cut into the Mean Green lead with a two-run home run in the third inning. She tied the game with a three-run homer in the fifth inning.

Martinez led off the third inning with her 10^th home run of the season. The 10 home runs moves the sophomore into third place on NT’s single-season home run record list. Only Susan Waters has hit more home runs in a single season. The former Mean Green player holds the single-season home record (18).

Jones continued the Mean Green’s home-run hitting with a solo shot in the fourth inning. The home run was the fourth of the season for the senior.  Platt gave North Texas the final lead with a two-run home run in the seventh. The home run was the sixth of the season for the senior.

WKU had one big inning for the second straight game in home team’s opening win of the day. The Hilltoppers scored four runs on five hits in the fifth. They posted only two hits outside that key inning.

North Texas responded with a big inning of its own, tying the game with four runs in the sixth. Courtney Bradshaw posted an RBI single, and Lisa Johnson hit a three-run homer.  Platt started the inning off with a walk. Martinez hit her eighth double of the season, and Bradshaw knocked her home with an RBI single. Johnson brought Martinez and Bradshaw home with her sixth long ball of the season. The freshman is second on the team in homers.

WKU scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth to take the win.  Jennifer Smith took the loss for the Mean Green after pitching in relief of Lawson. Lawson pitched 4.2 innings, gave up four runs on six hits and struck out seven Hilltoppers.

Martinez posted two multi-hit games for the Mean Green in the doubleheader. She went 3-for-5 in the nightcap with three RBI. Smith also posted three hits in the win.

North Texas returns to action on Wednesday, April 22 when it faces nationally-ranked Oklahoma at Lovelace Stadium at 6 pm.