Softball: UNT's Lail pitches no-hitter

Softball: UNT's Lail pitches no-hitter

Mean Green sweeps Troy

09:17 AM CDT on Sunday, April 12, 2009

Staff report

Ashley Lail pitched her second no-hitter of the season to lead North Texas to a 6-0 win over Troy on Saturday afternoon at Lovelace Stadium.

Ashley Lail

The win completes the three-game sweep of the first-place Trojans (30-14, 13-5) by UNT.

The Mean Green (24-18, 10-7) had only swept a three-game series once before prior to this weekend. UNT defeated ULM three times during the 2007 season.

The Mean Green tied the school record for most Sun Belt wins in a single season with 10. Troy had not dropped more than one game to a conference opponent this season until this weekend.

“The pitching all week has been great,” said UNT coach T.J. Hubbard. “Our defense this weekend was huge. Rebecca [Waters] at third, Kadie [Platt] at right and Megan [Rupp] in left, all came up with great plays.”

After pitching a shutout and allowing just two hits yesterday, Lail came back and pitched an even better game. She recorded her second no-hitter, allowing no hits in seven innings. She struck out five Trojans and did not walk a batter. Two Trojans reached base on errors.

In the two games this week, Lail picked up two wins and allowed just two hits in 14 innings.

“Everyone worked really hard this week, and it paid off,” said Lail. “I am not a strikeout pitcher, so I need to depend on my defense. Troy hit some hard balls, and everyone just played great defense.”

UNT continued its strong showing offensively, posting eight hits, including two home runs. Platt gave UNT a 2-0 lead in the second inning with a two-run shot to left field. It was her fifth home run of the season, tying her for second on the team.

Platt went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and scored a run.

Courtney Bradshaw added a solo home run in the fourth. It was her first home run of the season. She posted two hits and four in the three-game series.

The Mean Green added two runs in the fifth off an error and a Sarah Jones sacrifice fly. Platt knocked in the sixth run in the sixth inning with a single.

Rupp also posted two hits in the game.

The Mean Green has won five straight games, its longest winning streak of the season. UNT is just three wins shy of tying the school record for victories in a season.

Hubbard picked up his 50th career win on Saturday and improved his career coaching record to 51-51 in just fewer than two years on Sunday when UNT completed the sweep.

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