Mariza Martinez and Mallory Cantler failed to come through early in the clutch for North Texas in a doubleheader against Sun Belt Conference leader Florida Atlantic on Saturday.

There was no way they were going to let it happen again.

The freshmen came up with back-to-back hits in the fifth and seventh innings of the second game to lead the Mean Green to a 9-1 win over FAU, which opened the three-game series with a 1-0 win in the first game at Lovelace Stadium.

The teams will play the final game of the set at 1 p.m. today.

"Those two kids have been money all year," UNT head coach T.J. Hubbard said. "I wasn't about to let one game take anything away from them. They have worked too hard and battled too well all year long."

UNT has depended on the pair of freshmen throughout what is shaping up to be the best season in the history of the program. UNT (14-17) is 5-3 in conference play and is quickly approaching the school record for wins in a season of 22, a total the team reached the last two seasons.

Cantler came into the game hitting .362 while Martinez was hitting .341.

The pair played a key role in an offensive surge by the Mean Green, which came into the day having scored in 11 straight games.

But the lack of production was surprising about the way the opener of the doubleheader unfolded.

Jennifer Smith threw seven shutout innings, but the Mean Green squandered several scoring opportunities, including one in the seventh inning that seemed made for one of the freshmen to deliver the knockout blow against FAU. The Owls (22-16, 4-1) came into the day undefeated in conference play.

Right fielder Kadie Platt drew a leadoff walk before left fielder Lauren Bergstrom reached on an infield single to give the Mean Green runners on first and second with three of its top hitters coming to the plate.

None came through.

Shortstop Katya Muller grounded out, Martinez struck out and Cantler grounded out.

FAU took advantage of the Mean Green’s inability to drive in a run when pitcher Amber Barton drew a leadoff walk and scored when right fielder Becky Brandies singled to center.

The Mean Green appeared as if it would tie the game in the bottom of the inning when second baseman Rebecca Waters launched a fly ball that hit off the top half of the center field wall and came just short of leaving the park for a home run.

Waters settled for a double and ended up being one of 10 runners UNT stranded.

"Both Mariza and I have been clutch this year in a lot of situations," Cantler said. "You can't do it every time, but after that game we talked about it. We wanted to come through in the second game."

UNT was locked in a 1-1 game in the fifth inning of the second game when Martinez singled to center to set up Cantler with runners at the first and third. Cantler capitalized with an RBI single to right field.

The pair came up with back-to-back hits a second time in a six-run sixth. Martinez hit an RBI single to center before Cantler stroked a two-run double to center. Both had three hits in the second game after going a combined 0-for-8 in the opener.

The Mean Green's offensive outburst in the second game helped UNT capitalize on the second of two solid pitching performances. Kayla Lawson allowed one run on two hits in the second game and was just as effective as Smith, who took the loss in the first game after allowing one run in eight innings.

"We are trying to get what need to do done for our pitchers," Martinez said. "It was hard the first game. We were trying, but couldn't get the hits at the right times."

UNT finally got those hits in the second game to set up a showdown for the series win in Game 3 today. The Mean Green has won two out of three in each of its first two Sun Belt series and can extend the streak today with a win with its top pitcher Kristina Fowler as its starter.

"It helps to win series when it comes to the end of the season and it's time for the conference tournament," Hubbard said. "It gives you confidence and helps get you that higher seed."

BRETT VITO can be reached at 940-566-6870. His e-mail address is bvito@dentonrc.com.

Florida Atlantic 1, North Texas 0 (8 inn.)

Game 1

Florida Atlantic            000            000            01            --            1            6            1

North Texas            000            000            00            --            0            7            0

Amber Barton and Kerri Croney. Jennifer Smith and Courtney Bradshaw. WP – Barton (12-10). LP – Smith (5-6). 2B – FAU: Jessica Myers, Ashlyn Parmerter, Ambar Jones; UNT: Rebecca Waters.

North Texas 9, Florida Atlantic 1 (6 inn.)

Game 2

Florida Atlantic            100            000            --            1            2            0

North Texas            001            026            --            9            12            0

Rose Greessley and Kerri Croney. Kayla Lawson and Courtney Bradshaw. WP -- Lawson (6-5). LP -- Gressley. 2B -- FAU: Jessica Myers, UNT: Mallory Cantler. HR -- UNT: Mariza Martinez, Rebecca Waters. Records -- UNT 14-17, 5-2; FAU 22-16, 4-1.