April 19, 2012
LA Tech All-Access
RUSTON - Due to a forecast that calls for rain this weekend, game times for Louisiana Tech's three-game Western Athletic Conference softball series against BYU have been changed.
The two teams will now play a doubleheader on Friday starting at 3 p.m. at the Lady Techster Softball Complex and a single game Saturday at 1 p.m. Admission to all Lady Techster softball games is free.
Tech (18-23, 5-6 WAC) and BYU (28-12, 7-3 WAC) have only met on the softball diamond twice during the program histories with the Cougars prevailing both times during a tournament at Texas Arlington in 2001.
The Lady Techsters have lost four games in a row after being swept by 14th ranked Hawaii last weekend on the island. Tech enters this weekend's series in sixth place in the WAC standings, one-half game out of fifth place and one full game out of fourth place.
Tech has been impressive at home this season, posting a 7-2 record in Ruston with a team batting average of .297 and a team earned run average of 1.38.
Overall Tech is led by Melanie Goff (.378, 1 HR, 15 RBI), Janna Frandrup (.343, 2 HR, 25 RBI) and Erin Kipp (.279, 2 HR, 16 RBI) while Amanda Krueger (33 runs, 12 RBI), Katelynn Hill (5 HR, 15 RBI), Dacia Hale (5 HR, 14 RBI), Kendra Harmon (11 runs, 6 RBI), Alayna Kipp (4 HR, 13 RBI) and Meghan Knowles (4 HR, 14 RBI) have also been key offensive contributors.
Despite struggling last weekend against Hawaii, the Tech pitching staff has been solid for most of the season led by Michelle Jones (11-10, 2.78 ERA), Frandrup (2-4, 1.51 ERA) and Kipp (5-6, 5.16 ERA).
BYU, playing as an affiliate member of the WAC in softball for this year only, has an RPI of 36th in the country heading into this week's games. The Cougars boast an impressive record of 28-12 but have only played four true road games this season - losing all four.
Cougar head coach Gordon Eakin is one win away from his 400th career victory (399-172) in his 10th year as the head coach at BYU.
BYU pitcher Hannah Howell will be making a homecoming of sorts as she was born in Ruston and played at Calvin High School where she was a six-time all-state selection and the MVP in the state of Louisiana four times. Howell, a junior, leads BYU with 13 wins in the circle.
Offensively, the Cougars are led WAC Hitter of the Year candidate Delaney Willard, who is one of 25 finalists for the 2012 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year award. Willard currently ranks in the NCAA top 20 in six different offensive categories, including RBI per game (2nd, 1.50), slugging percentage (6th, .939), batting average (11th, .447), home runs per game (13th, 0.35), on-base percentage (15th, .542) and home runs (17th, 14).
This is BYU's first ever trip to the state of Louisiana.
Tech fans can follow all of the action this weekend via Gametracker at www.latechsports.com and via Twitter updates at @LATechMButler. Due to inclement weather on Friday, the live audio and video feed will not be available for those games.
