RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech Softball team resumes its non-conference slate by traveling to Baton Rouge to square off against BYU, LSU and NC State in the Purple and Gold Challenge at Tiger Park on Friday and Saturday.
SERIES INFORMATION
Date/Time: Friday, March 31 vs. NC State 11:30 a.m. | Friday, March 31 vs. BYU 2 p.m.
Saturday, April 1 vs. NC State 1:30 p.m. | Saturday, April 1 vs. LSU 4 p.m.
Location: Tiger Park (Baton Rouge, La.)
TV/Stream: SEC Network+ (LSU only)
Stats: Live Stats
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (20-12)
Louisiana Tech is 20-12 on the season. Solid pitching performances from
Emma Hutchinson and
Allie Floyd, in addition to home runs from
Jordyn Manning and Katelin Cooper lifted the Louisiana Tech Softball team to a 5-1 win over Northwestern State the last time out on March 28
Manning and Cooper lead LA Tech in home runs with four, respectively.
Getting on the scoreboard first has paid enormous dividends for the Lady Techsters this season, as they are 18-2 when doing so.
The Lady Techsters have had a knack for drawing walks this season with 116 bases on balls, ranking 20th in the country. Tech has not been afraid to wear pitches, having been hit by 48 pitches this season.
Sierra Sacco is on a 14-game reached base streak and leads Tech at the plate with 33 hits, 25 runs scored, 24 walks, and a .344 batting average. Sacco has 22 stolen bases this season which leading Conference USA and ranking ninth nationally. The Sophomore is the all-time program leader in career batting average with a mark of .408.
KB Briley has made an immediate impact since being inserted into the lineup at designated player two weeks ago. The Sterlington, La., product has reached safely in six-consecutive games. Briley is batting .346 with 10 RBI, two home runs and five runs scored in 26 at bats this season.
The Lady Techsters have been dominant in the circle with a team ERA of 1.71 in 216.2 innings pitched. Mary Martinez leads the Techsters in the circle with a 7-2 record and 1.38 ERA in 40.2 innings pitched. Martinez picked up her seventh win of the season in the 4-1 series finale win over Middle Tennessee. Brook Melnychuk leads Tech with a 1.24 ERA in 39.2 innings pitched.
Melnychuk ranks 22nd nationally in ERA, while Martinez ranks 38th. Tech is one of nine schools nationally to have two pitchers in the top 50 of ERA.
Tech is among the nation's leaders in double plays turned, averaging 0.50 a contest which ranks 11th among all DI programs.
Emma Hutchinson has been impressive against left-handed hitters this season, as opposing lefties are batting just .125 against her. The Lady Techster staff has been phenomenal at escaping jams this season as opposing hitters are 3-24 against them with the bases loaded and batting .244 with runners in scoring position.
Right fielder Kylie Neel leads LA Tech with 29 RBI and 41 total bases while posting a .323 batting average.
LA Tech is led by head coach Josh Taylor who is 57-28 in his second season at Tech and 179-141 in his career, with prior stops at Nevada (2017-2021) and Feather River College (2009-2012).
ABOUT NC STATE (12-20)
The Wolfpack are 12-20 this season and coming off a 8-2 win over North Carolina AT&T on Wednesday.
Rebecca Murray leads the Wolf Pack with a .284 batting average, while Amanda Hasler is the leader in home runs and RBI with seven and 20, respectively.
In the circle, they are led by Madison Inscoe, who is 7-6 with a 3.94 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 80 innings pitched.
The Wolf Pack dismissed head coach Jennifer Patrick-Swift on March 2 and announced that assistant coach Deven Boland would take over the reigns for the remainder of the season. Boland is 7-10 since assuming the head coaching position this season.
The Wolf Pack lead the all-time series over LA Tech 2-0, winning both meetings between the teams in 2005.
ABOUT BYU (15-7)
BYU carries a 15-7 record into this weekend, coming off a 14-11 slugfest win over Utah Tech.
Haley Morrow leads the Cougars with a .354 batting average and 19 RBI. Huntyr Ava leads BYU in home runs with six on the season.
Kaysen Korth has been impressive in the circle with a 9-2 record and a 3.19 ERA in 68 innings of work this season.
The Cougars are led by Gordon Eakin, who is 770-362 in his 20 seasons in Provo. He served as the USA National Team hitting coach from 2009-2010
BYU leads the all-time series with Tech 5-1. This weekend will mark the first meeting between the teams since 2012.
ABOUT No. 14 LSU (26-6)
LSU is 26-6 and ranked 14th in the latest NFCA poll. The Tigers secured a 2-1 series win over Ole Miss last weekend.
Danieca Coffey has posted an impressive .431 average at the plate this season. Taylor Pleasants is the slugger of the Tigers lineup with eight home runs, 36 RBI, and 61 total bases this season.
Ali Kilponen and Sydney Berzon lead the LSU staff pitching staff with ERAs of 2.02 and 1.49 while posting records of 8-3 and 9-2, respectively.
Beth Torina is in her 12th season leading the Tigers. She is 476-209 as the head coach of the Tigers. Prior to LSU, Torina accumulated a 129-111 record during her four seasons at FIU.
Louisiana Tech and LSU have met 30 times, with the Tigers leading the series 26-4. LSU won the last matchup 3-1 on Feb. 21 in Ruston in front of a record crowd of 1,100 fans at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
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