EL PASO, Texas – Behind a season-high 13 runs, 13 hits and four home runs, the Louisiana Tech Softball team defeated UTEP 13-2 to win its sixth-straight game and sweep the series at Helen of Troy Softball Complex.
Mary Martinez made the start and was impressive during her four innings in the circle. The freshman allowed just one run on three hits and struck out five.
Offensively,
Kylie Neel led the way with a home run, a double, and four RBI.
Amanda Gonzalez and Katelin Cooper both went 2-4 with two RBI. Cooper (2-run HR), Neel (solo HR),
Jordyn Manning (2-run HR), and
Caroline Easom (solo HR) all hit home runs in the contest.
LA Tech is on a six-game winning streak and is now 29-18 overall and 11-7 in Conference USA play. Tech is tied for fourth in the Conference USA standings with the win today and sits a game and a half back of first-place Charlotte.
NOTABLES
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Kylie Neel extended her reached base streak to 18 and hitting streak to 12 games with a solo home run in the fifth inning. The home run was Neel's fifth of the season.
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Kylie Neel's 43 RBI this season are the fifth-most in a single season in program history.
- Tech had a season-high in hits (13), runs (13) and home runs (4).
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Amanda Gonzalez stole her 15
th base of the season by taking second in the first inning. She also ran her hitting streak to four games with a first inning single.
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Jordyn Manning hit her sixth home run of the season with a two-run shot over the left field wall. Manning is now tied with Katelin Cooper for the team lead.
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Bailey Wright had a career-high two doubles.
- The win was the Lady Techsters 23
nd all-time over UTEP they now lead the all-time series, 23-15.
- With the win Tech has now won 772 all-time games away from Ruston.
- The win was the 1,289th all-time for Tech.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Mary Martinez made her eighth start of the season for Tech, while Zaylie Calderon of UTEP started in the circle for the 16th time this year. Calderon also started game two of the series for UTEP.
In the top of the first inning,
Amanda Gonzalez drove a two-strike pitch to left field for the game's first hit.
Brooke Diaz and Katelin Cooper followed with back-to-back walks to load the bases, but Calderon escaped the inning without damage.
In the bottom of the first, UTEP got on the board first courtesy of an RBI double by Savannah Favre. Martinez settled down and struck out the next two batters to get out of the inning.
Alyssa Dean reached on a walk and stole second base with two outs in the second inning, but she would be the lone Tech baserunner of the inning.
Martinez struck out two more Miners while working a scoreless bottom of the second.
Both teams were retired in order during the third.
Katelin Cooper led off the fourth inning with a single to left-centerfield.
Jordyn Manning then stepped to the plate and gave Tech the 2-1 lead with a two-run home run to left field. .
Martinez worked another scoreless frame in the bottom of the fourth.
Kylie Neel increased the Tech lead to 3-1 with a solo home run to centerfield in the fifth inning. The home run increased her hitting streak to 12 games.
Allie Floyd relieved Martinez in the fifth inning. UTEP made it a one-run game with a solo home run by Idalis Mendez.
Bailey Wright led off the sixth inning with a double to the left centerfield gap. Wright would come around to score on an infield single by
Amanda Gonzalez which increased the LA Tech lead to 4-2.
Floyd made quick work of UTEP in the sixth by retiring the side, courtesy of a foul out and two flyouts.
Caroline Easom singled into the right-centerfield gap with one out in the seventh. Manning followed with a walk. Ellingson then pinch-ran for Manning and both would score on a double by
Bailey Wright to make it 6-2 in favor of the Lady Techsters.
Alyssa Dean reached on an infield single and
Sierra Sacco walked to load the bases for Tech with just one out in the inning.
Amanda Gonzalez walked to bring home another run and make it 7-2. A bases-clearing triple by
Kylie Neel made it 10-2 before Katelin Cooper increased the LA Tech lead to 10 with a two-run home run to centerfield. A batter later,
Caroline Easom hit her first home run of the season to make it the final 13-2.
Alyssa Martin pitched a scoreless seventh inning in which she struck out two batters to wrap up the game.
Martinez got the win to improve to 10-3 on the season, while Calderon took the loss for UTEP, falling to 4-9.
NEXT UP
The Lady Techsters will be back at home on Tuesday when they host Grambling State at 6 p.m.
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.
