Thursday, February 11
Monroe, LA
5 p.m.
Louisiana Tech University
at
ULM
Photo by: Tom Morris
@LATechSB Opens Season Thursday
2/10/2021 11:29:00 AM | Softball
RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech will open its 2021 softball campaign Thursday when the Lady Techsters travel down I-20 to face ULM in the opening game of the Best of the Bayou Classic.
The contest will start at 5 p.m. and every game this weekend will be played at the Ouachita Sports Complex. Admission is $10 for a single day pass or $25 for a all-tournament pass.
Tech will play four games in three days. In addition to the opener against ULM, Tech will face Top 10 Oklahoma State Friday at 3:30 p.m. and again Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Lady Techsters are also slated to face Lipscomb Saturday at 1:15 p.m.
There will be no audio or video available for the games this weekend. Fans can follow through live stats.
Interim head coach Bianca Duran said that she is excited about what she has seen in practice and is ready to see her team compete this weekend.
"The bond this team has is something I'm excited to see competing against an opponent," said Duran. "We've spent a lot of time learning to play as one and have self-accountability, with player development on and off the field. We may be a brand new team but our athleticism and passion for the game is an aspect of this team that I am looking forward to seeing this week."
LA Tech returns just three players from its 2019 team that won 45 games and captured both the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles. Utility Zoe Hicks, infielder Lindsay Edwards and pitcher Hannah Koenig are the most experienced members of the Techster team while 11 of the 20 players are in their first season in a LA Tech uniform.
"I think the biggest obstacle for this team is not allowing inexperience to be an excuse or downfall," said Duran. "We are a young team but we have worked extremely hard to ensure that every player is ready come game one."
Tech is coming off an 8-16 mark in the Covid19-shortened season of 2020. Despite the struggles of last season and the youth of this year's group, Duran feels she possesses a deep roster.
"The strength of this team is our depth in all facets," said Duran. "We have more defensive and pitching depth than we've ever had. I am excited to see all parts of our game come together, not only on the defensive side but also on the offensive side as well."
Due to obstacles and safety measures due to Covid-19, this fall the Lady Techsters weren't able to play a normal 8-game exhibition schedule against other opponents. So Duran has only seen her roster compete against each other since school began back in September.
"It's going to be the first time we truly compete against an opponent as a brand new team," said Duran. "With not having the ability to play in the fall, we haven't truly got a taste of who we are when we aren't playing each other. This first weekend I expect to see us face some adversity but have the ability to overcome from our training from the past six months. I feel confident in this team's ability to fight to the last pitch and that they will do whatever it takes to give their all for their teammates."
The contest will start at 5 p.m. and every game this weekend will be played at the Ouachita Sports Complex. Admission is $10 for a single day pass or $25 for a all-tournament pass.
Tech will play four games in three days. In addition to the opener against ULM, Tech will face Top 10 Oklahoma State Friday at 3:30 p.m. and again Saturday at 3:30 p.m. The Lady Techsters are also slated to face Lipscomb Saturday at 1:15 p.m.
There will be no audio or video available for the games this weekend. Fans can follow through live stats.
Interim head coach Bianca Duran said that she is excited about what she has seen in practice and is ready to see her team compete this weekend.
"The bond this team has is something I'm excited to see competing against an opponent," said Duran. "We've spent a lot of time learning to play as one and have self-accountability, with player development on and off the field. We may be a brand new team but our athleticism and passion for the game is an aspect of this team that I am looking forward to seeing this week."
LA Tech returns just three players from its 2019 team that won 45 games and captured both the Conference USA regular season and tournament titles. Utility Zoe Hicks, infielder Lindsay Edwards and pitcher Hannah Koenig are the most experienced members of the Techster team while 11 of the 20 players are in their first season in a LA Tech uniform.
"I think the biggest obstacle for this team is not allowing inexperience to be an excuse or downfall," said Duran. "We are a young team but we have worked extremely hard to ensure that every player is ready come game one."
Tech is coming off an 8-16 mark in the Covid19-shortened season of 2020. Despite the struggles of last season and the youth of this year's group, Duran feels she possesses a deep roster.
"The strength of this team is our depth in all facets," said Duran. "We have more defensive and pitching depth than we've ever had. I am excited to see all parts of our game come together, not only on the defensive side but also on the offensive side as well."
Due to obstacles and safety measures due to Covid-19, this fall the Lady Techsters weren't able to play a normal 8-game exhibition schedule against other opponents. So Duran has only seen her roster compete against each other since school began back in September.
"It's going to be the first time we truly compete against an opponent as a brand new team," said Duran. "With not having the ability to play in the fall, we haven't truly got a taste of who we are when we aren't playing each other. This first weekend I expect to see us face some adversity but have the ability to overcome from our training from the past six months. I feel confident in this team's ability to fight to the last pitch and that they will do whatever it takes to give their all for their teammates."
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