RUSTON, La. – When Louisiana Tech opens the 2019 season Friday at the Sand Dollar Classic at the Gulf Shores Sportsplex in Gulf Shores, Alabama, the Lady Techsters will embark on three-month journey that they hope culminates with a second trip in the last three years to an NCAA Regional.

Tech plays five games in three days starting with Friday match-ups against Tennessee State (11 a.m.) and Florida A&M (2 p.m.). Saturday's games will include marquee match-ups against South Alabama (2 p.m.) and Auburn (5 p.m.) while Sunday's finale will come against Missouri State (10 a.m.).

Fans can follow all the action through social media avenues, including Twitter (@LATechSB).

"Gulf Shores has a really nice complex, and we are excited about being a part of it," said head coach Mark Montgomery. "It's an unusual tournament as there is no host school. It's truly a neutral site tournament. A great variety of teams that should give us a true indication of where we are at now."

This year's Techster team hopes to build on the momentum from the past few seasons with all eyes set on the program's first ever conference regular season title.

"What is so exciting to see is the amount of hard work every single person on our team has put in," said senior infielder Berkley Calapp. "Every single practice we are getting better at every aspect of our game, and I could not be more excited to see what this team can do in the regular season."

Over the last four seasons, Tech is one of only two programs in Conference USA to record at least 30 wins or more each year. Head coach Mark Montgomery, who is entering his seventh season in Ruston, has built one of the powers of the league as proven by the Lady Techsters being picked by the league coaches as the preseason favorites to win C-USA this year.

He knows how important even the first weekend of the season is for this year's team.

"Every game is important," said Montgomery. "We are not in the SEC where if we have a winning record at end of year we are going to the tournament. Every game matters to us so we have to win. We will mix the lineup up some; try a few different pitchers.

"You can go guns-a-blazing against the better teams and maybe have the ability to tinker with the lineup against a lesser opponent. It's a nice balance early. It gives us the ability to see who we are and what we need to work on and get better."

Tech's 135 wins over the last four years ranks third in the league while the Lady Techsters and Florida Atlantic are the only two C-USA programs that have reached the 30-win plateau for four consecutive seasons.

Within the state of Louisiana, which fields some top-notch collegiate teams, Tech joins LSU, UL-Lafayette and McNeese State as the only four programs that have won 30 or more in four straight years.

However, the Techsters want more than 30 wins. They want a C-USA regular season title, something they saw slip through their gloves in the final weekend of the 2018 season.

"Something different about this team is our chemistry, it's been pretty solid since the school year started," said senior pitcher De La Cruz, the 2017 C-USA Newcomer of the Year. "We're coachable. We all learn from each other and are always willing to help each other out. Every one of us has potential and we aren't selfish. We know our roles and trust our coaches. This year we are twice as goal-driven as last year. We take this game very seriously but also have fun while we're at it."

Reigning Conference USA Pitcher of the Year Preslee Gallaway and Player of the Year Morgan Turkoly headline an experienced group that includes nine players who were a part of the 2017 C-USA Tournament championship team. Tech also added six talented newcomers to its roster, including four true freshmen and DI transfers Mary Terral (Ole Miss) and Zoe Hicks (Buffalo).

It's a group that appears poised to make a run, but one that knows in order to do so, it must learn from last year's failures.

"Hopefully we can come out and get off to a better start then we did last year and then of course close the year out better than we did last year," said Montgomery. "We now know what it's like to play with pressure. I certainly think experience plays a role in that so when you feel the pressure, you know how to respond."

"With this team you are able to see the love for the game shine in every aspect," said sophomore infielder Bayli Simon. "Whether it's practice, weights, or film sessions each individual wants to learn and become the best player they can be for the team. The amount of depth and talent we have this year is incredible and the determination to win is there.

"Our leadership, team chemistry, and love we have for each other are some factors that I believe will help us to achieve our goals at the end of the year. There's no other group of girls that I would want next to me as we start the season."
 
Sand Dollar Classic Field Synopsis

Tennessee State Tigers (4-48 in 2018, 1-20 in Ohio Valley)
Preseason Pick: 12^th out of 12 in the OVC
Player to Watch: Junior Sarah Snell (INF/C) led TSU with a .294 batting average, 20 runs and 17-21 stolen bases

Florida A&M Rattlers (23-29 in 2018, 11-4 in MEAC)
Preseason Pick: 1^st out of 6^th in Southern Division of MEAC
Player to Watch: Junior Kyaira Brown (Pitcher) was a 2^nd team all-MEAC honoree last year, posting a 16-12 record with a 3.07 ERA

South Alabama Jaguars (29-27 in 2018, 13-13 in Sun Belt)
Preseason Pick: 6^th out of 10 in Sun Belt
Player to Watch: Junior Brittani Reid (OF – Kansas University transfer) batted .296 with 19 extra base hits (8 doubles, 3 triples, 8 HR) last year for the Jaguars.

#17/17 Auburn Tigers (41-17 in 2018, 11-12 in SEC)
Preseason Pick: 9^th out of 13 in SEC
Player to Watch: Senior Makayla Martin (Pitcher) recorded a 15-7 record with a 1.36 ERA, 2^nd lowest in a single season in program history

Missouri State (32-20 in 2018, 17-9 in MVC)
Preseason Pick: 4^th out of 10 in the MVC
Player to Watch: Senior Darian Frost (Catcher) earned first team all-MVC last year after batting .308 with 5 HR and 34 RBI