April 29, 2012
RUSTON - Louisiana Tech will play three non-conference home games this week starting Monday with a softball doubleheader against McNeese State at 4 p.m. at the Lady Techsters Softball Complex.
Tech will then host Northwestern State Wednesday at 6 p.m. in a single game. All three games are makeup dates from previously rained out contests earlier in the season.
The Lady Techsters (20-28, 7-10 WAC) are coming off a weekend conference series that saw them win the middle contest of the three-game series against Nevada. With the 10-2 victory over the Wolf Pack, which snapped UN's four-game winning streak, Tech clinched a spot in the upcoming Western Athletic Conference Tournament in Las Cruces, New Mexico from May 9-12.
Tech joins perennial powers Fresno State and Hawaii as the only three programs to have qualified for every WAC Tournament since the league reinstated the event in 2006.
McNeese State (28-17, 11-7 Southland) has some marquee victories this year as the Cowgirls have defeated defending national champion Arizona State as well as Oregon State and Houston twice.
The Cowgirls are led offensively by Claire Terracina (.372, 25 runs, 10 RBI), Alanna DiVittorio (.303, 4 HR, 17 RBI), Ashley Modzelewski (.279, 3 HR, 23 RBI) and Marissa Koetting (.245, 5 HR, 22 RBI). McNeese State's real strength lies in the circle where Tiffany Denham (11-8, 1.52 ERA) and Meagan Bond (15-8, 3.23 ERA) have anchored a strong pitching staff.
LA Tech recorded a season-high 16 hits in its 10-2 win over Nevada Saturday. Melanie Goff (.382, 11 doubles, 18 RBI), Janna Frandrup (.312, 2 HR, 27 RBI), Erin Kipp (.286, 17 RBI) and Amanda Krueger (.273, 35 runs, 12 RBI) are Tech's top offensive threats.
Michelle Jones (13-13, 2.71 ERA) continues to lead Tech in the circle while Frandrup (2-4, 1.38 ERA), Kipp (5-6, 5.25 ERA) and Goff (0-5, 6.17 ERA) have all been solid at times throughout the season.
Tech leads the all-time series against McNeese State 54-22.
Fans can follow all of Monday's action on Gametracker at www.latechsports.com or through Twitter updates by following @LATechMButler. Fans can also access a video and audio stream of the game by purchasing a subscription to LA Tech All-Access.
