Texas Tech softball held an 8-2 lead through three frames before North Texas rallied with a pair of big innings to defeat the Red Raiders, 12-11, Sunday in the finale of the Texas Tech Invitational.

The loss moves Texas Tech to 11-9 overall after a 3-2 showing in its first home weekend. The Red Raiders opened the event Friday with an 8-0 run-rule win over UTEP and a 10-7 loss to Wichita State. Tech earned a sweep Saturday, defeating UTEP 12-4 in six innings and North Texas 6-5.

“You cannot give up 17 hits and win,” head coach Adrian Gregory said. “We have to pitch better, and we have to defend better. Overall, it was a great weekend for us at the plate. We have not hit well up until this point, but we now have that going, so we just have to put everything together now.”

Texas Tech erased an early 2-0 deficit by plating seven runs in the second inning, highlighted by sophomore infielder Jessica Hartwell’s second grand slam of the season. Sophomore centerfielder Kiani Ramsey also had an RBI single in the frame as Tech built a 7-2 lead.

Senior catcher Susan Welborn added to the lead with her third home run of the weekend, a towering solo shot to left field that made it 8-2.

The Mean Green would cut the lead to 8-6 in the fourth thanks to back-to-back home runs, a three-run shot by shortstop Kelli Schkade followed by a solo shot to left field by second baseman Lindsay Gregory.

North Texas seized the lead for good in the sixth as the first five batters singled, and a throwing error in the infield with the bases loaded allowed the Mean Green to put across five runs in the inning to take a 12-9 lead.

The Red Raiders cut the lead to 12-10 in the bottom half of the sixth as senior Devon Thomey launched a shot over the right field wall for her second home run of the season and first one hit out of the ballpark.

Tech had life in the bottom of the seventh as Welborn hit a one-out double and was brought in by a Mean Green error at first base with two outs. Sophomore Kenzie Davis represented the winning run as she stepped into the batter’s box, but flied out to left field to end the game.

The Red Raiders face a quick turnaround, traveling to Abilene, Texas, Tuesday for a 6 p.m. tilt against Abilene Christian. Tech is back on the road this weekend for the Tulsa Invitational, which features Wichita State, California, Montana and host Tulsa.

COURTESY OF TEXAS TECH ATHLETICS