YOUNGSVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Tech softball team had a successful first day at the Mardi Gras Mambo, defeating Toledo (4-2) and Manhattan (10-2, 5 inn.) Friday evening at the Youngsville Sports Complex in Youngsville, La.

Louisiana Tech is now 5-1 on the season, which is the best start by a LA Tech squad since 2019.

Tech's pitching staff once again put the Lady Techsters in a position to win, allowing just two earned runs on the day. Mary Martinez got the win in game one, pitching three shutout innings of relief while allowing just one hit with a strikeout. The win was Martinez's first in her career. Emma Hutchinson took the ball in game two and garnered her first win of the season, striking out one while allowing three hits over the course of her four innings pitched.

Amanda Gonzalez had an incredible day at the plate, going 5-6 with four RBI, three runs scored, and two walks. Junior catcher Brooke Diaz had a three-hit performance in game two, going 3-4 with a run scored and three RBI.

Defensively, Jordyn Manning was impressive at first base, making a diving catch in foul territory in game one. In the top of the fifth in game two, she corralled a ground ball down the first-base line then made a diving tag to record an out before scooping a Bailey Wright throw off the turf to complete a 5-3 putout just two batters later.

Sophomore center fielder Sierra Sacco reached base safely in both games to run her streak of reaching base to 36 games.
 
Quotables
"Today's games were a testament to our talent level. Finding a way to win games even when you don't play well is a testament to that. We will need to be better offensively and in the circle moving forward," – Head Coach Josh Taylor.
 
Notables

• Brooke Diaz and Amanda Gonzalez both lead the team with two multi-RBI games apiece.
• Sierra Sacco has now reached base in 36 consecutive games.
• Mary Martinez got her first career win while Emma Hutchinson picked up her first win of the season.
• Ella Rose Wright got her first career start behind the plate against Manhattan she walked twice and threw out a runner.
• The Lady Techsters' 10-2 win over Manhattan was their second run-rule of the season and first five-inning run-rule win this year.

Game One
Pitching was the story in the early stages of the Mardi Gras Mambo opener against Toledo, as both teams put zeros on the board in the first three innings of play. Brook Melnychuk got the ball for Tech, striking out two while allowing two unearned runs in four innings.
 
Toledo got it's only two runs in the top of the fourth courtesy of three hits and two errors.

Tech struck back in the second when Jordyn Manning ripped a single up the middle to score Jina Baffuto, who pinch-ran Brooke Diaz, who reached by being hit by a pitch.

Martinez came in for Melnychuk in the fifth and was impressive, allowing just one hit while striking out one in three shutout innings.

Tech busted things open and took the lead for good in the sixth. Katelin Cooper started the inning with a walk followed by a Caroline Easom single before a pitch hit Jordyn Manning to load the bases. With the bases loaded, Bailey Wright was hit by a pitch to make it 2-2 Tech. A two-out single by Amanda Gonzalez drove in Easom and Manning to give Tech a 4-2 lead and, ultimately, the win.

Martinez issued two groundouts to start the seventh, followed by a Toledo single before getting her last batter to pop up to Bailey Wright at third base to give Tech and herself the win.

Game Two
Emma Hutchinson got the ball in game two and picked up the win, striking out one while allowing three hits and two runs in four innings of work. 

Diaz got Tech going in the first inning by singling to center field to plate Gonzalez for the first run of the ball game.

A solo shot by the Jaspers' Lindsey Hoag made it 1-1 in the second. Manhattan then took the lead in the top of the third when Gabriella Mazotta scored after Marika Deemer stole second. 

Tech quickly wiped away the Jaspers' lead with a six-run bottom of the third. Kylie Neel hit a stand-up triple to right field to bring in Gonzalez, followed by Diaz doubling in Neel before Cooper tripled home Diaz to make it 4-2 in favor of the Techsters. Cooper later scored on a single up the middle by Jordyn Manning. An error by the first baseman on a ground ball hit by Sierra Sacco added another before a walk by Gonzalez increased the lead to 7-2. 

Gonzalez doubled down the left field line in the fifth to give Tech even more insurance by driving in Bailey Wright to make it 8-2. 

Gonzalez went 2-2 at the plate with two hits, two RBI, two walks and two runs scored. 

A SAC fly by Kylie Neel and Brooke Diaz singling through the right side of the infield gave Tech the 10-2 run-rule win to push the Techsters to 5-1 on the young season.

Sophie Kesoloski took the loss for Manhattan, allowing seven runs and six hits while striking out two in 2.1 innings pitched.

NEXT UP
The Lady Techsters continue the Mardi Gras Mambo tomorrow with St. Thomas at 3 p.m. and Florida A&M at 5 p.m.
 
For all the latest in Lady Techster Softball, follow them on Twitter (@LATechSB), Instagram (@LATechSB) and Facebook (Louisiana Tech Softball) or visit the official website at LATechSports.com.