RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech will host UAB in a pivotal three-game Conference USA series this weekend at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field as part of Ever Loyal Be Weekend.
The three-game set will include a Friday (6 p.m.), Saturday (2 p.m.) and Sunday (1 p.m.) with all three games streamed live on CUSA.tv.
Tech (29-17, 9-6 C-USA) trails UAB (21-18, 9-5) by a half game in the West Division with North Texas in first place by 1 ½ games. The Blazers and the Mean Green will play a three-game set the following weekend.
Head coach
Josh Taylor and Co. are coming off a series road win over North Texas in Denton and have won eight of their last 10 contests.
Freshman
Sierra Sacco leads a much-improved Tech offense. Sacco (.424, 41 runs, 17-21 SB) leads the nation in hits with 64 and enters the weekend with a streak of 18 consecutive games reaching base safely.
Amanda Gonzalez (.339, 7 HR, 24 RBI),
Brooke Diaz (.309, 7 HR, 32 RBI),
Katelin Cooper (.298, 13-13 SB),
Madie Green (.295, 8 HR, 24 RBI) and
Lindsay Edwards (.264, 7 HR, 31 RBI) and
Caroline Easom (.237, 30 RBI) have been Tech's top run producers this season.
Audrey Pickett (19-5, 2.34 ERA),
Lauren Menzina (4-6, 3.37) and
Emma Hutchinson (6-6, 3.42) have combined to lead Tech to 29 wins in the circle.
UAB enters the weekend having dropped seven of its last eight games, including three straight in C-USA play after falling twice at home to UTSA last weekend (third game was canceled due to weather). The Blazers have played seven non-conference games against P5 teams, including two against No. 1 Oklahoma (L, 11-2 & 2-0) and two against No. 4 Alabama (L, 8-1 & 7-0).