MIAMI – Behind a season-high 12 hits and a grand slam from catcher
Brooke Diaz, the Louisiana Tech Softball team defeated FIU 12-3 in its series opener on Friday night at Felsberg Field in Miami.
With the victory, the Lady Techsters improved to 17-8 on the season and 2-2 in Conference USA play.
Diaz led the way offensively with her four RBI courtesy of her grand slam.
KB Briley went 3-4 with a three-run home run in the top of the seventh. Katelin Cooper went 1-2 with three RBI and a sacrifice fly, and
Caroline Easom tied a career-high with three hits. Everyone in the LA Tech lineup reached base safely during the game.
Lauren Menzina picked up the win by throwing four innings in relief, allowing just one run in the process.
NOTABLES
- Brooke Diaz tied a career-high with 4 RBI, courtesy of her grand slam in the top of the second.
- KB Briley hit her second career home run with a three-run shot to left field in the top of the seventh.
- Caroline Easom matched a career high with three hits
- Sierra Sacco walked twice and has now reached base in seven-consecutive games.
- Jordyn Manning was hit by a pitch in the top of the seventh to run her reached-base streak to six games.
- LA Tech is now 264-183 in games started by a right-handed pitcher this decade, including a 51-37 mark under head coach Josh Taylor.
- With the win Tech is now 173-75 all time in Conference USA play.
- The win was the Lady Techsters 763rd all time in games played outside of Ruston.
- The Lady Techsters improved to 8-3 this season when wearing their red jerseys.
QUOTABLES
"We needed every bit of our run production. FIU is a very aggressive offense and we are going to have to continue that tomorrow in order to beat them. I was proud of how our pitchers competed today. They got hit a little bit but I was proud of how they competed and did not allow crooked numbers. When you do that you have a chance to win. Our defense didn't play well in certain situations but they also made big plays when we needed them. I am proud of our performance tonight but we have to be ready to compete tomorrow in order to take this series." – Head Coach
Josh Taylor
HOW IT HAPPENED
Allie Floyd made the start for LA Tech, allowing one earned run in three innings pitched.
Louisiana Tech got off to a hot start early, plating three runs in the top of the first.
Sierra Sacco led off the inning by getting hit by a pitch.
Amanda Gonzalez then stepped up to the plate and doubled into the left centerfield gap to bring home Sacco for the game's first run. Katelin Cooper followed with a double to right centerfield, driving in Gonzalez and making it 2-0.
Kylie Neel drove in Cooper with a single up the middle to increase the lead to 3-0 in favor of Tech.
FIU got one back in the bottom of the first, capitalizing on an error to bring the score to 3-1.
KB Briley and
Bailey Wright recorded back-to-back singles and
Amanda Gonzalez walked to load the bases with one out in the bottom of the second. Katelin Cooper then drew a bases-loaded, which made it 4-1.
Brooke Diaz broke things wide open one batter later by capping a 15-pitch at bat with a grand slam to increase the Tech lead to 8-1.
With the bases loaded and one out in the bottom of the second,
Caroline Easom snagged a line drive off the bat of FIU shortstop Ashton Landsell then tossed it to
Jordyn Manning to catch the retreating runner and turn an inning-inning double play.
Easom then led off the third with a double to left centerfield, but she was stranded and the Panthers kept Tech off the board.
FIU added a run in the bottom of the third, aided by an error that allowed a runner to score on a single by Ella Whitney to cut the lead to 8-2.
The Lady Techsters got sent down in order in the top of the fourth.
Lauren Menzina relieved
Allie Floyd in the bottom of the fourth. FIU had the bases loaded with no outs but could only muster one run as
Bailey Wright recorded a 5-2 force out for the first out of the inning before
Amanda Gonzalez and
Caroline Easom turned a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.
Easom and Briley both recorded their second hits of the game with singles through the left side in the top of the fifth.
Menzina mowed down the Panthers in the bottom of the fifth, with her only blemish being a single by Whitney.
In the top of the sixth, Cooper made it 9-3 Tech with a sacrifice fly to left field that home Sacco. Cooper's sacrifice fly was the first of her career.
Menzina kept the Panthers off the board in the bottom half for her second-consecutive scoreless frame.
In the top of the seventh,
KB Briley hit her first home run of the season with a three-run shot to left field to bring the score to 12-3.
Menzina kept them off the board in the bottom half to give Tech the win and improve her record to 4-0 on the season, while Ella Whitney took the loss for FIU.
NEXT UP
The Lady Techsters will look to take the series and potentially sweep FIU tomorrow as they play a doubleheader starting at Noon CT.
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.
