MOBILE, Ala. - The University of South Alabama softball team fell 6-4 to North Texas Saturday at Jaguar Field in game one of a scheduled doubleheader. Heavy rains came in the third inning of the second contest, forcing umpires to suspend play until Sunday at 11 a.m.

Katy Neal faced the minimum number of batters until the fourth inning, when UNT (14-10, 3-2 SBC) loaded the bases before Anna Barren scored the first run when Sarah Jones’ singled to the left side. In the next at bat Lisa Johnson singled to right field to bring home Mallory Cantler and put the Mean Green up 2-0.

Cantler went 2-for-4 with one run.

USA (12-14-1, 0-2 SBC) came back in the bottom of the inning when Kristen Hayes’ suicide squeeze bunt brought home Kait Chernomaz to close the gap at 2-1.

With two runners on in the fifth Haley Hopkins came on in relief of Neal, who left the game with five strikeouts in four-plus innings of work.
Mariza Martinez hit a two-run double to right field to score Megan Rupp and Kadie Platt as UNT ended the inning with a 4-1 lead.

The Jags rallied three runs in the fifth after Tara Donaldson brought home Katie McGuire on a single through the right side. Corey Race brought in Carolina Mendoza with another run on a single to center field. On the same play, she advanced to third on a UNT error as pinch runner Kelsy Donaldson scored unearned to tie the game at 4-4.

Race went 2-for-2 at the plate with one RBI.

In the top of the seventh with no outs and two Mean Green runners on base USA brought in Beth Pilgrim to pitch. Hopkins (0-1) took the loss for USA after finishing the game with one strikeout in two innings in the circle.

UNT scored the final runs in the seventh after Rebecca Waters singled to center to bring home Lyndi Samuelson and Barren to break the tie. Jennifer Smith (6-4) recorded the win for the Mean Green with two strikeouts in 2.0 innings of relief.

In the second game USA scored early in the first when Smith walked Race to bring Mendoza home.

The Mean Green tied the game at 1-1 in the third after Platt homered to right center.

After two batters came up in the bottom of the third, heavy rains forced officials to suspend play until Sunday after an hour delay.

USA will conclude an eight-game homestand on Tuesday at 4 p.m. against in-state rival Troy.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).