Birmingham, Ala. – The Louisiana Tech Softball team dropped its series finale 8-7 on Friday afternoon at Mary Bowers Field in Birmingham, Ala., as the Blazers won the game and the series on a walk-off single by Alyson Smith.
Tech had a 7-6 lead entering the bottom of the seventh. With one out and a runner on second, UAB Slugger Sierra Frazier stepped to the plate and doubled to the right-centerfield gap to tie the game at seven. Alyson Smith gave UAB the win with an RBI single to centerfield that brought home Frazier.
Sierra Sacco led the way at the plate for Tech with three RBI in addition to a single and a hit by a pitch. Her three RBI tied a career-high.
KB Briley had a team-high two hits and also collected two RBI, while Katelin Cooper hit her fifth home run of the season.
NOTABLES
- Tech is now 21-3 when scoring first this season.
- Katelin Cooper hit a solo home run in the top of the first which was her team-leading fifth of the season.
- Sierra Sacco tied a career high, tallying three RBI.
- The Lady Techsters' seven runs were the most since March 18th of this season when they put up 10 in a win at FIU.
- Kylie Neel extended her reached base streak to 11 games with a double in the third inning.
- Tech now leads the all-time series with UAB 19-11.
HOW IT HAPPENEND
Head Coach
Josh Taylor went with the exact same lineup that won game two of the series for LA Tech. Junior right-handed pitcher
Brook Melnychuk got the start for LA Tech.
With two outs in the first, Katelin Cooper gave Tech the early 1-0 lead with a solo shot to right field.
Kylie Neel walked one batter later to extend her reached-base streak to 11 games.
Brook Melnychuk used a nasty change-up to strike out the leadoff batter in the top of the first. UAB used four consecutive singles to take a 2-1 lead.
KB Briley and
Paris Endris started the top of the second by singling to centerfield.
Alyssa Dean then battled back from an 0-2 count to walk and load the bases.
Sierra Sacco tied things up when she sent a fly ball to deep centerfield that was dropped by Bella Wiggins of UAB, allowing Briley to advance home and Sacco to reach.
Melnychuk faced the minimum while spinning a scoreless second inning.
Kylie Neel doubled to left centerfield to lead off the third inning.
Amanda Gonzalez followed with a bunt single down the first-base line advancing Neel to third. Gonzalez stole second before Briley singled to right field, driving in Neel and Gonzalez to put Tech back in front 4-2.
Sierra Sacco was then hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 5-2, and
Ella Rose Wright raced home on a passed ball to increase the lead to four.
The four-run lead would be short-lived, however. In the bottom of the third, UAB cut the deficit to 6-5 on three singles and a double.
UAB made a pitching change and brought in Leigha Kirby in the fourth inning.
The Lady Techsters were retired in order in the top of the fourth. Bella Wiggins tied the game in the bottom half with a solo home run to centerfield.
Alyssa Dean reached on a walk and stole second one pitch later with two outs in the fifth.
Sierra Sacco then singled to left field to bring home Dean and put Tech in front, 7-6.
Hutchinson spun a scoreless bottom of the fifth, highlighted by a diving catch by Cooper in left field that took away an extra-base hit from UAB.
Both teams went down in order during the sixth inning.
Tech could not get anything at the plate in the seventh inning.
Allie Floyd came in to pitch the bottom of the seventh. Lulu Brock singled to centerfield to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Brock advanced on to second on a sacrifice bunt, representing the first out of the frame. UAB Slugger Sierra Frazier stepped to the plate and doubled to the right-centerfield gap to bring home Brock and tie the game at seven. Floyd intentionally walked the next batter for a possibility for a force out at third. Alyson Smith gave UAB the win with a two-RBI single to right centerfield as the Blazers improved to 21-18 on the season and 8-6 in C-USA play, while Louisiana Tech fell to 23-17 and 5-7 in Conference USA play.
Floyd took the loss to move to 5-6 and Kirby picked up her fourth win of the season for UAB.
NEXT UP
Tech will be back in action at 6 p.m. on Wednesday when they travel to Oxford, Miss. to square off against Ole Miss.
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.
