Natchitoches, La. – Solid pitching performances and home runs from Jordyn Manning and Katelin Cooper lifted the Louisiana Tech Softball team to a 5-1 win over Northwestern State on Tuesday night at Lady Demon Diamond in Natchitoches, La.

Tech got on the board early with Manning's three-run home run to left field in the second inning. Katelin Cooper then followed with a solo shot in the third to left centerfield. Brooke Diaz led Tech at the plate with two hits on the night.

Emma Hutchinson (3 inn.) and Allie Floyd (4 inn.) were impressive, combining to hold the Lady Demons to just one run in their seven innings pitched.

NOTABLES

• Tech is now 20-12 on the season and 16-7 in non-conference play.
• The win was the 1,281^st in program history and the 766^th all time away from Ruston.
• Jordyn Manning hit her team-leading fourth home run of the season with a three-run shot in the bottom of the second.
• Brooke Diaz threw out her eighth baserunner attempting to steal this season in the bottom of the first.
• Diaz recorded her fifth multi-hit game of the season with a single in the second inning and a double in the fifth inning.
• The Lady Techsters improved to 18-2 when scoring first.
• Sierra Sacco extended her reached base streak to 14 games with a walk to lead off the game.
• Opposing batters are just 3-24 against Tech with the bases loaded this season.

 
QUOTABLES
"Allie (Floyd) really grinded there late to keep Northwestern State from doing damage. I am really proud of how she competed tonight being able to get out of a tough situation. We made some big plays late and the home runs that we got played a huge role. Jordyn Manning and Katelin Cooper's home runs were big for us," – Head Coach Josh Taylor

HOW IT HAPPENED
Emma Hutchinson made her eighth start of the season for LA Tech and was impressive, throwing three scoreless innings while allowing one hit and striking out one.

Sierra Sacco drew a leadoff walk to start the contest, increasing her reached-base streak to 14 games. The Sophomore would be the lone baserunner of the inning for Tech.

Hutchinson threw a scoreless frame in the bottom of the first, highlighted by a strikeout and Brooke Diaz catching her eighth runner this season trying to steal by throwing out a Lady Demon at second.

Kylie Neel led off the second inning with a walk followed by a single by Brooke Diaz. One out later, Jordyn Manning hit a mammoth shot to left field to give LA Tech a 3-0 lead. The home run was Manning's fourth of the season to put her in the team lead.

Hutchinson kept the Lady Demons at bay with another scoreless inning in the bottom half, her only blemish being a double to centerfield.

In the top of the third, Katelin Cooper joined Manning in the team lead with a solo home run to left centerfield to increase the Lady Techsters lead to 4-0. The solo shot was Cooper's fourth round-tripper this year.

Hutchinson started the bottom of the third by retiring Ashlyn Walker on a pop-up to Amanda Gonzalez to cap a 13-pitch at-bat.

Diaz was hit by a pitch and Manning walked in the fourth inning, but they would be left stranded as the Lady Demons got out of the inning without damage.

Allie Floyd relived Hutchinson in the bottom of the fourth, pitching a perfect inning capped by a strikeout in which she froze the Northwestern State batter with a nasty change up.

Free passes issued to KB Briley and Neel started things off in the top of the fifth. Brooke Diaz stepped to the plate with two outs and doubled down the left field line to bring home Briley to make it 5-0, Lady Techsters.

A throwing error and a walk put runners on first and second for Northwestern State to start the bottom of the fifth. However, Floyd did not let them advance further as she retired the next three Lady Demons courtesy of a strikeout, fielders choice and a flyout.

Aleya Hill just missed a solo home run in the top of the sixth, flying out to the warning track in dead centerfield.

Northwestern State loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth with one out. The Lady Demons got a run to cut the Tech lead to 5-1, but that is all they would get as Floyd was able to minimize the damage and get out of the inning.

In the top of the seventh, Katelin Cooper and KB Briley drew back-to-back walks with one out and were stranded to end the inning.

Northwestern State put the first two batters on in the bottom of the seventh, but Floyd was unfazed as she retired three consecutive batters for her third win of the season.

NEXT UP
Tech will travel to Baton Rouge to face LSU, NC State and BYU in a four-team tournament on Friday and Saturday.
 
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.