Birmingham, Ala. – The Louisiana Tech Softball team split its doubleheader at UAB, winning game two 5-2 and falling in game one 4-1 on Thursday afternoon at Mary Bowers Field in Birmingham.
Amanda Gonzalez had a great day at the plate in both games going 4-7 with a run scored and an RBI.
In game two, Tech used a three-run sixth inning to put the game away.
Allie Floyd picked up her second win of the week by spinning five innings of two-run ball while striking out one in the process. Five different Lady Techsters recorded hits and RBIs in the win.
Emma Hutchinson picked up her second save of the season by tossing two shutout innings.
Despite outhitting UAB, Tech could not break through in the opening game of the series as they stranded nine runners on base in the contest.
Alyssa Martin threw three strong innings in relief during the game, allowing just one unearned run and striking out two.
NOTABLES
- The Lady Techsters are 23-16 overall and 5-6 in Conference USA play.
- Tech is now 21-2 when scoring first this season.
- Katelin Cooper extended her hitting streak to three games with infield singles against UAB.
- Amanda Gonzalez led Tech with two hits in both games, running her total of multi-hit games to eight this season. She also increased her hitting streak to five games. The senior stole two bases to run her season total to 12.
- Kylie Neel extended her reached base streak to 10 games with a double in game one and a single in game two.
- Allie Floyd escaped a one-out bases loaded jam in the bottom of the third inning. It was the second time Tech had escaped a bases-loaded jam with just one out as Lauren Menzina accomplished the feat back on March 5 in a 1-0 win over Houston Christian.
- Tech now leads the all-time series with UAB 19-10.
- The win over the Blazers in game two was the 1,283rd in program history and the 769th win all time away from Ruston.
GAME TWO
Head Coach
Josh Taylor went with a different and younger look in game two by inserting three freshmen in the lineup in
Jina Baffuto (second base),
Paris Endris (first base) and
Ella Rose Wright (catcher) all started in the game.
Sierra Sacco led off the game with a walk.
Jina Baffuto was called out on a controversial call in which the umpires said that her sacrifice bunt attempt hit her outside of the batter's box. Sacco stole second and later advanced to third on a groundout by Katelin Cooper.
Kylie Neel gave Tech the 1-0 lead with an RBI single through the right side, which brought home Sacco.
Lauren Brock doubled to lead off the bottom of the first for UAB and later came around to score on a single by Sierra Frazier, which tied the game at 1-1.
KB Briley led off the second inning with a single up the middle and later came around to score on an infield single by
Alyssa Dean to put Tech back in front, 2-1.
Floyd spun a scoreless frame in the bottom of the inning with her only baserunner reached on a wild pitch in, which she struck out on.
In the third, Katelin Cooper was the lone Techster to reach base after drawing a walk.
UAB threatened in the bottom half, loading the bases with one out in the inning, courtesy of a walk and back-to-back singles, but Floyd buckled down and retired two-consecutive Blazers to escape the jam.
Paris Endris sent a fly ball to deep right field, which was dropped by the Blazers' Hannah Miles, allowing Endris to reach second. Endris took third on a passed ball and Dean walked to put runners on the corner with two outs. Dean stole second a pitch after walking, but Tech could not break through, and both were stranded.
UAB initially tied the game in the bottom of the fourth, but head coach
Josh Taylor and Tech appealed and the tying runner did not touch third base as Tech escaped the inning with the lead.
The Blazers tied it up with a run in the fifth.
Amanda Gonzalez led off the top of the sixth by singling to centerfield.
Paris Endris followed with a one-out walk.
Ella Rose Wright gave Tech the lead by singling up the middle to score Gonzalez.
Alyssa Dean was hit by a pitch to load the bases. A single down the left field line by Sacco made it 4-2 before
Jina Baffuto gave Tech a 5-2 lead with a sacrifice fly to right field.
Emma Hutchinson entered the game in the bottom of the sixth inning in relief of
Allie Floyd and spun a scoreless inning.
Amanda Gonzalez singled with one out in the seventh. However, the Blazers escaped the inning and the score held at 5-2.
Hutchinson sat the Blazers down in order in the seventh to pick up her second save of the season.
Allie Floyd got the win to improve to 5-5 on the season.
GAME ONE
Sierra Sacco was hit by a pitch to lead off the game.
Caroline Easom hit into a fielder's choice to replace Sacco at first. UAB retired the next two Tech batters to complete a scoreless top of the first.
Lauren Brock led off with a walk for the Blazers, but that would be all for UAB as Martinez retired her next three batters faced.
In the top of the second,
Kylie Neel flew out to the warning track in right field.
Amanda Gonzalez recorded the first hit of the game with an infield single to shortstop.
With two outs in the bottom of the second, UAB went ahead on a solo home run to left field off the bat of Lindsey Smith.
The Lady Techsters were retired in order in the third inning. A two-run home run to left-centerfield by Sierra Frazier made it 3-0 UAB in the bottom of the third.
In the top of the fourth, Katelin Cooper led off with a bunt single down the third base line. Cooper late stole second base to get into scoring position but was stranded.
Alyssa Martin relieved Martinez in the fourth inning. UAB scored on an error to make it 4-0 in the bottom half.
Bailey Wright got plunked by a pitch with two outs in the top of the fifth. It was the 13th time Wright was hit by a pitch this season.
Sierra Sacco later reached on an error by UAB first baseman Alyssa Aguilar, but that was all Tech could get.
Alyssa Martin kept the Blazers off the board in the fifth, striking out a batter in the process.
Tech rallied with two outs in the sixth.
Kylie Neel lined a double off the right field wall before coming home to score on a single by
Amanda Gonzalez.
Gonzalez moved up on the throw to home and later advanced to third on an infield single by
Ella Rose Wright. A walk by
Paris Endris loaded the bases, but Tech could not come through.
Martin kept dealing with a scoreless bottom of the sixth.
Sierra Sacco led off the seventh with a single up the middle, which was all that Tech could muster and UAB took game one.
NEXT UP
The Lady Techsters are now to 23-16 on the season and 5-6 in C-USA play. Tech will be back in action at 1 p.m. on Friday for the series finale.
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.
