RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech Softball team begins a 10-game homestand by hosting Central Arkansas on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. The Lady Techsters' 10-game home stand is their longest since 2012.
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Wednesday, March 1 | 6 p.m. CT
Location: Dr. Billy Bundrick Field (Ruston, La.)
TV/Stream: CUSA.tv
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Tickets: LATechSports.com/Tickets
Promotion: Dr. Seuss Book Drive
QUOTABLES
"We are looking forward to hosting an 11-2 Central Arkansas team that is really well coached. They have a very good pitching staff and it will be a nice challenge for us as we move towards Conference USA play," – Head Coach
Josh Taylor.
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (9-5)
Tech is coming off the South Alabama Invitational, where they went 2-2 with wins over Tulsa (7-4) and Furman (7-3) while falling to Mississippi State (8-4) and South Alabama (2-0) this past weekend.
Second baseman
Caroline Easom and catcher
Brooke Diaz were both named to the all-tournament team at South Alabama. Diaz went 5-6 at the plate on day one of the invitational, while Easom posted two three-hit games during the weekend.
Emma Hutchinson picked up her second win of the season in the 7-3 victory over Furman, allowing two runs while striking out one during her five innings in the circle.
Easom leads Tech in batting average (.333) and on-base percentage (.450).
Sierra Sacco and
Kylie Neel lead LA Tech with 14 hits apiece. Neel also leads the Lady Techsters with 14 RBI, already matching her season total in 2022.
Pitching has been the story this season for the Lady Techsters as they hold a team ERA of 2.44. Freshman
Mary Martinez leads LA Tech in ERA (1.45), wins (3) and WHIP (.98). Martinez struck out four in her two innings of relief work in the loss to South Alabama.
Allie Floyd leads the Lady Techsters in innings pitched with 29 while posting an ERA of 2.17.
On the base paths, Tech has swiped 20 bases in 23 attempts, led by centerfielder
Sierra Sacco, who has stolen 12 bases this season to lead Conference USA and rank eighth nationally.
First baseman
Jordyn Manning carries a four-game hitting streak into the matchup, while Sacco has reached base safely in eight-consecutive games.
Tech has won 22 of its last 25 games at Dr. Billy Bundrick field.
LA Tech is led by head coach
Josh Taylor who is 48-25 in his second season at Tech and 171-134 in his career, with prior stops at Nevada (2017-2021) and Feather River College (2009-2012).
ABOUT CENTRAL ARKANSAS (11-2)
The Sugar Bears are 11-2 this season and are coming off a 4-0 weekend in the Michelle Short Memorial Classic, earning a pair of victories over Missouri State (3-1, 6-1) in addition to Mississippi Valley State (11-1) and South Dakota State (7-6).
The Sugar Bears possess one of the best pitching staffs in the country, with a team ERA of 1.37. Kayla Beaver headlines the UCA staff with a 1.08 ERA in 52 innings pitched. Beaver's seven wins this season rank fifth nationally. The redshirt junior is 7-1 this season, her only blemish being a 3-2 loss to No. 9 LSU.
Sophomore infielder Kylie Griffin leads the Sugar Bears at the plate with a .387 average, including 12 hits, two doubles, a home run and eight runs batted in. Central Arkansas is batting just .223 as a team.
The Sugar Bears are led by first-year head coach Jenny Parsons who is 11-2 in her first season at the helm. Parsons served as an assistant for 10 seasons at UCA prior to becoming head coach.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisiana Tech and Central Arkansas have met seven times, with the Sugar Bears leading the all-time series 4-3. Central Arkansas won the last matchup 3-0 on Feb. 9, 2020, in New Orleans.
Bailey Wright started the game at second base and recorded a hit in the loss.
TICKETS
Tickets are on sale and can be purchased at
LATechSports.com/Tickets or by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631.
CLEAR BAG POLICY
Clear bags are required at all Louisiana Tech athletic events.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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