RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech Softball team will look to run its winning streak to six games when it hosts ULM on Tuesday at 6 p.m. for an in-state showdown at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Tuesday, March 7 | 6 p.m. CT
Location: Dr. Billy Bundrick Field (Ruston, La.)
TV/Stream: CUSA.tv
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Tickets: LATechSports.com/Tickets
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (14-5)
Louisiana Tech is 14-5 on the season and coming off an impressive 4-0 weekend at the LA Tech Invitational, which included three run-rule wins. Tech defeated Houston Christian twice (8-0, 1-0) and UMass Lowell twice (10-0, 8-0).
Behind a string of 23 consecutive scoreless innings from the Lady Techster pitching staff, LA Tech outscored its opponents 27-0 in its four games in the invitational.
The Lady Techsters' 14-5 start is the best since 2019, when they had a 15-4 mark through their first 19 games played.
Pitching has played a pivotal role this season for the Lady Techsters as they hold a team ERA of 1.96.
Mary Martinez leads the Techsters in the circle with a 4-1 record and 1.29 ERA in 21.2 innings pitched.
Brook Melnychuk and
Allie Floyd also own earned run averages below two as well at 1.75 and 1.80, respectively.
The LA Tech pitching staff has let its defense play behind them, as the Lady Techsters' 0.68 double plays per game is the third-best mark among all division one programs.
Tech is batting .285 with 133 hits and 98 runs in 467 at-bats. Right fielder
Kylie Neel leads LA Tech with a .375 batting average, including 21 hits, while recording five doubles, 20 RBI, 14 runs scored and seven walks. Her 20 RBI ranks third among all Conference USA players. Left fielder Katelin Cooper leads the Lady Techsters with three round-trippers this season. She has already surpassed her home run total from 2023.
LA Tech is led by head coach
Josh Taylor who is 53-25 in his second season at Tech and 176-134 in his career, with prior stops at Nevada (2017-2021) and Feather River College (2009-2012).
The Lady Techsters are on a 10-game homestand, their longest since 2012.
ABOUT ULM (14-8)
The Warhawks are off to a strong start this season with a 14-8 record. ULM went 2-1 in its weekend series at Nichols State, defeating the Colonels by scores of 4-3 and 3-2 while falling 1-0.
Outfielder Lourdes Bacon leads the Warhawks with a .365 batting average and 27 hits.
Gianni Hulett is the ace of the ULM staff with a 2.23 ERA and a 5-1 record in 47 innings pitched.
Houston Christian is led by Molly Fichtner, who is 82-123 in her five seasons at the helm.
SERIES HISTORY
Louisiana Tech and ULM have met 107 times with Tech leading the series 69-38. ULM won the last matchup 3-2 on May 3, 2022 in Monroe. The Lady Techsters' 69 wins over the Warhawks are the most over a single opponent in program history.
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