DENTON -- Just after 8 p.m. at Lovelace Stadium, I heard a loud crack from the right handed batter's box. I slowly watched a softball travel over the trees for another Mean Green home run. This time it was Rhylie Makawe, who also hit another bomb to left field in the fifth inning to give North Texas a 7-0 lead.
My immediate thought was, "I'm glad Mean Green softball is back home."
A few batters later, Camille Grahmann slapped a line drive down the left field line to drive in Harley Perella and give the Mean Green an 8-0 run rule victory in UNT's first game at home in 19 days.
Makawe finished the night 2-for-4 with four RBIs, capping off a night where UNT finished with 11 hits. Makawe accounted for the Mean Green's 31st and 32nd home run of the season.
"I just felt more relaxed today, honestly," Makawe said. "We had a good vibe going before the game. We were just playing games in the outfield and everybody just seemed pretty relaxed."
Perella went 3-for-4 with three runs scored, which brings her run total on the season to a team-high 36. Next closest is Kenzie Young with 25.
Hanna Rebar got things started off in the bottom of the first inning with a two-out RBI single to left field to give UNT an early 1-0 lead.
North Texas has scored at least one run during the first inning in four of the last five contests.
"We want to score early and often," DeLong said. "Anytime you score early on teams, you put pressure on them. I like that we're scoring early and hopefully we continue to do it."
Sophomore pitcher Hope Trautwein hurled a complete-game shutout to earn her 15th win of the season, which matches last year's win total for Trautwein. Although she only struck out three, Trautwein only allowed three hits as the North Texas defense failed to commit an error.
"Hope went through a stretch where she didn't throw very well," DeLong said. "She still gave us a chance and she still won some games, so she's still kind of finding her best stuff. We've figured something out in the bullpen and I think Hope's going to finish strong this season."
With all that being said, this North Texas offense is deadly. I know I've said it over and over again this season, but this team continues to show why they're atop of the Conference USA West Division. I don't want to look too far ahead because it was a win against a struggling Saint Mary's College team (7-24), but this team could be hard to handle in an NCAA regional.
If this doesn't excite you as a Mean Green softball fan, then I don't know what does. The future is bright with DeLong and his staff. The Mean Green have tons of junior talent and a gritty pitching staff that is headed by a sophomore and freshman.
So come out to Lovelace Stadium on Sunday at 10 a.m. for the first game of a doubleheader against Saint Mary's College as North Texas looks to get their third sweep in the last four weeks. You won't want to miss it.
Final Box:
North Texas 8, Saint Mary's College 0
Saint Mary's 000 00 -- 0 3 0
North Texas 130 04 -- 8 11 0
WP -- Hope Trautwein; 2B -- Lacy Gregory
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