April 26, 2012
Live Video
RUSTON - Louisiana Tech sits one-half game behind Nevada in the Western Athletic Conference race as both the Lady Techsters and Wolf Pack position themselves for the upcoming league tournament with only two weekends remaining.
The two teams will meet in a three-game series at the Lady Techster Softball Complex this weekend starting Friday at 6 p.m. and continuing Saturday with a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
Tech (19-26) is 6-8 in WAC play while Nevada (19-30) is 7-8 as the two teams are currently sitting in fifth and sixth place in the eight-team league standings. Only the top six teams qualify for the WAC Tournament, which will be held May 9-12 in Las Cruces, New Mexico. Tech is currently three and a half games in front of seventh-place Utah State.
After sweeping a three-game series from defending WAC champion New Mexico State during the first weekend of April, LA Tech has dropped seven of its last eight games - with three of the losses to 14th ranked Hawaii and two against Top 40 BYU.
Melanie Goff (.388, 10 doubles, 16 RBI), Janna Frandrup (.316, 26 RBI, 36 walks), Amanda Krueger (.270, 34 runs, 12 RBI) are Tech's top offensive threats. Meghan Knowles has come on recently, including a pair of home runs and four RBI over the last eight games.
Michelle Jones (12-12, 2.81 ERA), Kipp (5-6, 5.25 ERA), Frandrup (2-4, 1.51 ERA) and Goff (0-4, 5.92 ERA) could all see time in the circle during the series.
Nevada is led by Karley Hopkins (.315, 26 runs, 14 RBI), Lauren Lastrapes (.301, 5 HR, 26 RBI) and Sara Parsons (.292, 16 doubles, 20 RBI) as the Wolf Pack are batting .265 as a team.
In the circle, the Wolf Pack rely on the arms of Karlyn Jones (8-4, 3.31 ERA), Mallary Darby (9-14, 3.68 ERA), and Bailey Brewer (2-9, 5.49 ERA).
Nevada leads the all-time series against LA Tech 20-14 although the Lady Techsters have won five of the last six meetings.
Fans can follow all of the action this weekend via Gametracker at www.latechsports.com and through Twitter updates at @LATechMButler. Fans can also access a live audio/video feed of the game by purchasing a subscription to LA Tech All-Access.
There will be a number of promotions surrounding this weekend's series, including:
Friday Night: $1 raffle tickets will be sold and prizes will be awarded every inning to one lucky winner, including gift certificates to Log Cabin, Hot Rods and other area restaurants. All proceeds will go to the local chapter of DART.
Saturday at 1 p.m.: Free hot dogs, chips and drinks (while supplies last); Tech XX available to take pictures with fans; face painting and bouncers for the kids; chance to roll the dice to win Smoothie King coupons; Softball Bingo for chance to win prizes such as free oil change from Chevron Fast Lube and other autographed items; Donations will be accepted for free food and all proceeds will go to the local Boys and Girls Club; raffle will also be held to win two Kindle Fires donated by the SGA Sports Promotions Department
Saturday at 3 p.m.: Free hot dogs and rinks; face painting and bouncers for the kids
