RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech erupted for nine runs in the second inning and recorded its second straight run-rule victory defeating Stephen F. Austin 11-3 Thursday night at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
Tech (24-15), which run-ruled ULM just two nights before, snapped the Ladyjacks nine-game winning streak and did it with a dominating performance.
Amanda Gonzalez,
Lindsay Edwards and
Kylie Neel each registered three RBIs in the victory while they were joined in the multi-hit club by
Sierra Sacco and
Madie Green.
"We really swung the bats well tonight, especially early," said Tech head coach
Josh Taylor. "We are steadily starting to figure out how to be hitters. How to understand hitting. Situations. Counts. Making adjustments. It's really fun to see the progress."
Tech sent 123 batters to the plate in bottom of the second inning, scoring nine runs on nine hits and one error. Neel had a bases-clearing double while Edwards had an RBI single and a two-run double in the frame.
For the second time this year, Tech chased WAC Pitcher of the Year Kassidy Wilbur early in a game. This time Wilbur worked just one inning, allowing three earned runs on five hits before being pulled with no outs in the second inning.
The carnage continued as SFA reliever Sophie Hannabas managed to record just two outs while allowing six runs on six hits. By the time Brooke Gainous came on for SFA, the damage was done.
Tech starter
Audrey Pickett (17-4) picked up another win despite not having her best stuff in the circle. Pickett worked around base runners most of the night, allowing just three runs on 10 hits in 6.0 innings of work.
Gonzalez ended the game in the bottom of the sixth for the Lady Techsters, lining a pitch to straight away centerfield for a two-run home run – her sixth of the year.
Tech will host Nicholls State in a three-game non-conference series this weekend with a 6 p.m. single game on Friday and a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.
