Ruston, La. – Behind a three-run sixth inning and another shutout, the Louisiana Tech Softball team defeated UTSA, 3-0 on Saturday afternoon at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field on Alumni Weekend.
Brook Melnychuk (3 inn.),
Mary Martinez (3 inn.) and
Allie Floyd (1 inn.) combined for the Lady Techsters' 10
th shutout of the season. Melnychuk got the start and was impressive during her three innings in the circle. The junior struck out three and allowed just one hit while walking two. Martinez picked up the win in relief, surrendering just one hit while collecting a strikeout in her three frames. Floyd then pitched a scoreless seventh to record her fourth save of the season.
Tech broke through with a three-run sixth inning that featured a leadoff home run by
Kylie Neel and RBI doubles from Katelin Cooper and
Caroline Easom. Neel's home run broke up Reagan Smith's no-hitter.
The Lady Techsters are now 25-18 overall and 7-7 in Conference USA play.
NOTABLES
-
Sierra Sacco stole her 29
th base of the season by stealing second in the first inning.
-
Kylie Neel extended her reached base streak to 14 games with a walk in the bottom of the third inning.
- Neel hit her third home run of the season with a solo home run in the sixth, increasing her hitting streak to eight games while collecting her team-best 34
th RBI
-
Mary Martinez collected her team-leading ninth win of the season to improve to 9-3.
- The win was the 1,285th all-time for Tech and the 516th all-time in Ruston.
- The shutout was the 10th by the Louisiana Tech pitching staff this season.
- Tech honored former Head Coach Bill Galloway during the game and presented him with a plaque commenerating his 1,000 career wins.
- Over 25 former Lady Techsters were in attendance as part of Alumni Weekend.
HOW IT HAPPENED
In the top of the first, Kat Ibarra led off the game with an infield single, but that was all UTSA would get as Melnychuk retired the next three courtesy of a flyout, fielder's choice and strikeout.
Sierra Sacco led off the bottom of the first with a walk before stealing second four pitches later. That was as far as Sacco would get as Smith escaped the inning scoreless.
Melnychuk started the second inning by striking out her first two batters faced. A scary moment occurred when home plate umpire Paul Bosshartd was hit in the head with a pitch, resulting in a 15-minute delay while he received medical attention. Bosshardt was able to leave the field on his own power. Melnychuk returned after the delay to complete the scoreless frame.
Brooke Diaz and
Jordyn Manning both walked in the bottom of the second. Smith wouldn't allow anyone past second base, however, and the game remained scoreless in the early going.
A walk by Marena Estell was the only base runner for UTSA in the top of the third.
Kylie Neel walked and
Brooke Diaz was hit by a pitch in the bottom half.
Mary Martinez relieved Melnychuk in the fourth inning. Martinez retired Camryn Robillard of UTSA by getting her to fly out to Sacco in centerfield on the 12th pitch of the at bat. The Kingwood, Texas product breezed through the next two hitters for a 1-2-3 inning. Smith replicated Martinez' inning with a 1-2-3 inning herself in the bottom half.
UTSA threatened by putting two runners on with one out in the top of the fifth, courtesy of a single and a walk. Martinez buckled down and retired her next two batters by generating a flyout to Sacco and a ground ball to
Caroline Easom at second base.
Tech was retired in order by Smith in the bottom of the fifth.
Martinez breezed through the Roadrunners with a 1-2-3 sixth inning.
Kylie Neel broke up the no-hitter in a big way by homering to right field to lead off the bottom of the sixth.
KB Briley then reached on an error before Katelin Cooper and
Caroline Easom added some insurance with a pair of RBI doubles.
Allie Floyd came in for the save in the bottom of the seventh and spun a scoreless frame to secure the series win for Tech as the Lady Techsters improved to 25-18 on the season.
Mary Martinez earned her ninth win of the season to improve to 9-3, while Reagan Smith fell to 3-13 for UTSA.
NEXT UP
Tech will be back in action at 1 p.m. tomorrow when they will look to sweep the series.
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.
