RUSTON – Behind dominant pitching and timely hitting, the Louisiana Tech Softball team rebounded with a 4-1 win over Middle Tennessee in its series finale on Sunday afternoon at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
At the conclusion of the fifth inning the game was delayed nearly two hours due to inclement weather in the area. Play was resumed and both teams played the last two innings to make it a full seven-inning game.
The LA Tech pitching staff was impressive as usual.
Lauren Menzina got the ball for Tech and pitched 2.1 innings, allowing one run on three hits while striking out one.
Mary Martinez got the win in relief by striking out three batters and surrendering just one hit in her 2.2 innings pitched.
Allie Floyd was unstoppable on her way to her third save of the season, retiring all six batters faced.
Six different Lady Techsters collected hits in the contest.
Kylie Neel led the way at the plate with a two-RBI single in the bottom of the first that gave Tech a 2-1 lead that would not be relinquished.
Caroline Easom and Katelin Cooper also drove in runs.
NOTABLES
- Tech is now 19-12 on the season and 4-5 in Conference USA play.
- Mary Martinez picked up her team-leading seventh win of the season. She is now 7-2 on the year.
- Allie Floyd collected her third save to move into a tie with Martinez for the team lead.
- The come from behind win was the third of the season for LA Tech.
- Sierra Sacco extended her reached base streak to 13 games with a single in the bottom of the fourth. Sacco is also on a 12-game hitting streak.
- Sacco stole her team-leading 22nd base of the season.
- KB Briley doubled in the contest to improve her hitting streak to five games.
- The win was the 40th at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field and the 514th all-time at home.
QUOTABLES
"I like the way we endured the weather delay then came out and got six outs in a row. Allie (Floyd) and all of our pitchers did a great job today in neutralizing their offense. We were able to get some productive outs when we needed them with a couple sacrifice flies from
KB Briley and
Caroline Easom. Carol swung the bat really well today but did not have much to show for it. We had a lot better at bats so we were able to get four runs and our pitchers were able to do what they have done all year. I am happy with the win. We still need to keep improving on offense and we will use this upcoming week to do that and get things right for when we go to UAB over easter weekend." – Head Coach
Josh Taylor
HOW IT HAPPENED
Shortstop
Amanda Gonzalez made two impressive defensive plays for the first two outs of the game in the top of the first. Middle Tennessee shortstop Laura Mealer doubled and later came around on a single by Anyce Harvey to give the Blue Raiders a 1-0 lead.
In the bottom of the first,
Caroline Easom and Katelin Cooper drew back-to-back one-out walks to put runners on first and second with just one out.
KB Briley stepped to the plate and quickly found herself down 0-2. However, Briley fought back, drawing a 10-pitch walk to load the bases while fouling off five pitches in the process.
Kylie Neel followed with a single through the right side, scoring Easom and Cooper to push Tech ahead 2-1.
Menzina kept the Blue Raiders off the board with a scoreless frame in the second.
Alyssa Dean reached on an infield single in the bottom of the second for the lone Tech runner in the inning.
Mary Martinez relieved Menzina with one out in the third and got a big strikeout of Mealer for the second out of the inning.
Katelin Cooper led off the bottom of the third inning with a leadoff triple to the right-centerfield gap and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Briley to run the Tech lead to 3-1.
Martinez pitched a scoreless frame in the top of the fourth, capped by a strikeout.
Sierra Sacco singled with two outs in the bottom half to increase her hitting streak to 12 games. Sacco then followed by swiping second for her 22nd stolen bag of the season. Middle Tennessee got out of the inning without damage courtesy of left fielder Lexi Medlock robbing
Caroline Easom of an extra-base hit.
Martinez again retired the Blue Raiders in order in the top of the fifth. Briley doubled to right centerfield in the bottom of the fifth to run her hitting streak to five games.
Shortly after the conclusion of the fifth, the game went into a lightning delay.
After a nearly two-hour delay, the game was resumed with
Allie Floyd stepping into the circle, who promptly sat down the Blue Raiders in order in the top of the sixth.
Gonzalez led off with a single to centerfield and advanced to second on an error by the centerfielder on the same play.
Jordyn Manning followed with a walk, and
Alyssa Dean advanced them with a sacrifice bunt. Middle Tennessee loaded the bases by intentionally walking Sacco.
Caroline Easom then lifted a fly ball to centerfield that brought home Gonzalez that made it the final 4-1.
Floyd picked up her third save of the season with a 1-2-3 top of the seventh. The East Bernard, Texas product was lights out in relief, retiring all six batters faced. Claire Woods took her first loss of the season for Middle Tennessee (23-8, 4-2 C-USA)
NEXT UP
Tech will hit the road to visit Northwestern State for a 6 p.m. midweek showdown on Tuesday. The game will be broadcast on ESPN+.
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.
