RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech Softball team closes out its 10-game homestand by welcoming Northwestern State to Dr. Billy Bundrick Field for a Tuesday night non-conference showdown at 6 p.m.
SERIES INFORMATION
Date/Time: Tuesday, March 14 (6 p.m.)
Location: Dr. Billy Bundrick Field (Ruston, La.)
TV/Stream: CUSA.tv
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Tickets: LATechSports.com/Tickets
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (15-8)
Louisiana Tech is 15-8 on the season and coming off a 1-2 showing in its conference-opening series against North Texas. Tech fell 3-1 in 11 innings on Friday before winning 7-2 on Saturday and dropping the series finale 3-2 on Sunday.
First baseman
Jordyn Manning batted .357 with five hits, a double, a home run, three RBI and a run scored in the Lady Techsters' four games last week. The West Monroe, La., product is on a career-high four-game hitting streak. Manning is tied for the LA Tech team lead with Katelin Cooper at three home runs apiece this season.
Centerfielder
Sierra Sacco has stolen 18 bases this season, which leads Tech and ranks third in Conference USA. Tech has caused havoc on the base paths this season, swiping 38 bases in 41 attempts.
Sacco has posted an impressive .538 on-base percentage (OBP) when leading off the inning this season, while the Lady Techsters have a team OBP of .416 when leading off.
Pitching has played a vital role this season for the Lady Techsters, as they hold a team ERA of 1.80.
Mary Martinez leads the Techsters in the circle with a 5-1 record and 1.28 ERA in 27.1 innings pitched.
Allie Floyd leads Tech in innings pitched with 52.2 while owning a 1.73 ERA and a team-best .93 WHIP (walk hits per inning).
Emma Hutchinson has been dominant against left-handed hitters this season, as opposing lefties are batting just .140 against her. The Lady Techster staff has been phenomenal at escaping jams this season as opposing hitters are 0-14 against them with the bases loaded and batting .204 with runners in scoring position.
Right fielder
Kylie Neel leads LA Tech with a .348 batting average, including 24 hits, while recording five doubles, a home run, 23 RBI, 17 runs scored, and 10 walks. Her 23 RBI rank fourth among all Conference USA players. Neel hit her first home run of the season in the series' first game against North Texas with a solo blast to right field in the bottom of the sixth inning.
LA Tech is led by head coach
Josh Taylor who is 54-28 in his second season at Tech and 177-137 in his career, with prior stops at Nevada (2017-2021) and Feather River College (2009-2012).
The Lady Techsters are on a 10-game homestand, their longest since 2012.
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN STATE (12-9)
The Lady Demons are 12-9 this season and went 1-2 in their conference-opening weekend series with Lamar (March 10-12)
Laney Roos leads Northwestern State with a .348 batting average. She has tallied 24 hits and nine RBI on the year. Makenzie Chaffin leads the NSU squad in home runs with two, while Keely Dubois has a team-best 14 RBI.
In the circle, they are led by Maggie Darr, who is 6-4 with a 2.59 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP in 48.2 innnings pitched.
Donald Pickett is in his 14th season leading Northwestern State with a record of 377-353-1.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisiana Tech and Northwestern State have met 110 times, with the Lady Techsters leading the all-time series, 59-51.
The Lady Demons won both matchups last year, 3-2 in Ruston (Feb. 16) and 6-2 at NSU (May 29).
Caroline Easom hit a home run in the loss at Northwestern State.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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