Softball
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photo courtesy of Rick Yeatts
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Kirk Pitches Shutout In Softball Victory |
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Boca Raton, Fla. (5/10/12) - Ashley Kirk pitched a three-hit shutout to lead the North Texas softball team to a 3-0 win against Florida Atlantic in conference tournament action on Thursday afternoon at the FAU Softball Stadium. The Mean Green (27-25-1) will play either FIU or USA in a second elimination game on Friday at approximately 2:30 p.m. North Texas is now 1-1 in the conference tournament. Owls are eliminated from the tournament with the loss. The 27 wins for the Mean Green ties for the second-most victories in North Texas softball history. The victory also solidifies a winning season for North Texas, the second in the history of the program. Kirk earned her 12th win of the season. She pitched a complete game, giving up just three hits in seven innings of work. She struck out six batters and walked just one in the seventh inning. With her six strikeouts, she broke her own single-season record for strikeouts with 159. The 12 wins is a personal best and move her into sole possession of fourth place for wins in a single-season at North Texas. For the second straight game, North Texas put the first run on the scoreboard. The Mean Green was able to hold on to the lead to secure the victory. Brooke Foster added the insurance runs with a two-run homer in the sixth. Lisa Johnson knocked home Foster from third to put the Mean Green ahead, 1-0, in the fourth inning. Foster reached base on a bunt single and advanced to second on the overthrow to first. The shortstop moved to third on a deep fly ball hit to right field by Caitlin Grimes. Lesley Hirsch led off the sixth with an infield single. Foster brought her home with a deep home run to left field to add to the Mean Green lead. It was Foster's seventh home run of the season. Foster and Hirsch combined for four of the Mean Green's five hits in the game. Foster also scored two runs and recorded two RBI. |
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