RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech Softball team travels to College Station, Texas for a midweek non-conference matchup with nationally-ranked Texas A&M on Wednesday at 6 p.m.
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Wednesday, March 22 | 6 p.m.
Location: Davis Diamond (College Station, Texas.)
TV/Stream: SEC Network +
Stats: Live Stats
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (18-9)
Louisiana Tech is 18-9 on the season and coming off a 2-1 series win at FIU last weekend. Tech won the opener 12-3, fell in game two 1-0, and won the series finale 10-2. Catcher
Brooke Diaz hit a grand slam during the second inning of the series opener and followed it up with a three-run home run in the series finale.
Sierra Sacco is on an eight-game hitting streak. Sacco batted .545 during the Lady Techsters' four games last week, collecting six hits and two RBI while scoring six runs. Sacco has 18 stolen bases this season which ranks 13th nationally.
As a result of her efforts last week, she was named to the NFCA top performers list.
The Louisiana Tech pitching staff has allowed just nine earned runs over its past 84 innings of play. Pitching has been the story this season for the Lady Techsters, as they hold a team ERA of 1.69 in 182.2 innings pitched.
Mary Martinez leads the Techsters in the circle with a 6-1 record and 1.39 ERA in 35.1 innings pitched. Martinez picked up her sixth win of the season by going five innings in a 10-2 win over FIU in the series finale.
Brook Melnychuk leads Tech with a 1.02 ERA which leads Conference USA and ranks 18th nationally. Martinez ranks 45th nationally in ERA.
LA Tech is one of nine schools with two pitchers in the top 50 nationally in ERA.
Tech has caused havoc on the base paths swiping 39 bases in 42 attempts. The Lady Techsters rank second nationally in double plays a game averaging 0.58 per contest.
Right fielder
Kylie Neel leads LA Tech with a .350 batting average, including 28 hits, while recording five doubles, a home run, 26 RBI, 19 runs scored and 11 walks.
Her 26 RBI rank fourth among all Conference USA players.
Scoring first has been a recipe that leads to success for LA Tech this season, as the Lady Techsters are 17-1 when striking first.
LA Tech is led by head coach
Josh Taylor who is 57-29 in his second season at Tech and 180-138 in his career, with prior stops at Nevada (2017-2021) and Feather River College (2009-2012).
ABOUT TEXAS A&M (16-10)
Texas A&M is ranked 24th in the latest USA Today/ESPN Poll. The Aggies are 16-10 and were swept by No. 17 Georgia last weekend by the scores of 7-5, 6-5 and 8-0.
Amari Harper leads A&M at the plate with a .404 batting average. Riley Valentine is the Aggies' slugger with a team-leading five home runs and 16 RBI.
In the circle, they are led by Emiley Kennedy, who is 5-2 this season with a 2.32 ERA in 45.1 innings pitched.
Trisha Ford is 16-10 in her first season leading Texas A&M. Ford holds a career record of 413-236-1 in her 13 seasons as a head coach, with prior stops at Saint Mary's (2002-03), Fresno State (2013-2016) and Arizona State (2020-22).
SERIES HISTORY
Louisiana Tech and Texas A&M have met 63 times, with the Aggies leading the all-time series, 41-22.
The Aggies took the last matchup 7-2 on March 13, 2021, in College Station.
Caroline Easom collected a hit in the game for LA Tech.
LA Tech and Texas A&M met during the 1983 Women's College World Series, with the Aggies coming out on top 2-0.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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