Box Score RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech Softball team wrapped up its non-conference slate by falling to UL-Lafayette, 8-1 on Wednesday evening at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.

The game was much closer than the final score indicated, as Tech entered the seventh inning trailing 2-1. UL-Lafayette broke things open with a six-run top of the seventh inning courtesy of seven singles, an error, and a walk.

Offensively, Sierra Sacco led the way going 1-1 with two walks. Bailey Wright also recorded a hit in the contest with a single through the left side of the infield.

NOTABLES
- Kylie Neel extended her reached-base streak to 23 games as she was hit by a pitch in the bottom of the first inning.
- Sierra Sacco has now reached base in 15-consecutive games with a leadoff walk. She made her 111^th-consecutive start in the contest. Sacco stole her 35^th base of the season, by swiping second in the bottom of the third.
- Brooke Diaz threw out her 11^th runner attempting to steal this season.

QUOTABLES
"You come to points in seasons every year where you have to decide what you want to do and what you don't. You have to decide on how you want to compete and move forward. We have certain things that need to be addressed and that we need to work on throughout the course of a game and in the locker room as we move forward." – Head Coach Josh Taylor

HOW IT HAPPENED
Freshman Allie Floyd made her 13 start of the season for LA Tech, while UL-Lafayette went with Right-hander Sam Landry for the 24th time this season.
 
Mihyia Davis reached on an error to start the ballgame. Brooke Diaz threw out Davis, who was attempting to swipe second for the game's first out. Floyd retired the next two batters with a groundout and an infield pop-up to complete a scoreless frame in which she faced the minimum.
 
Sierra Sacco led off the bottom of the first with a leadoff walk. A pitch hit Kylie Neel, allowing her to reach with one out in the inning. Neel and Sacco would be the only baserunners for Tech, as Landry escaped without damage.
 
Both teams were kept off the scoreboard in the second inning, with the Ragin' Cajun's Jourdyn Campbell's double being the only hit of the inning.
 
Victoria Valdez led off the top of the third for UL-Lafayette with a single into right field. Brook Melnychuk then relieved Floyd. A batter later, Maddie Hayden gave the visitors the 1-0 lead with a triple into right centerfield. Davis singled in Hayden with a single to left to increase the lead to two. Melnychuk responded by retiring the next three batters to get out of the inning.
 
Sierra Sacco singled with one out in the bottom half. Sacco later stole second for her 35th stolen base of the season.
 
Melnychuk tossed a 1-2-3 inning in the fourth.
 
Katelin Cooper led off the bottom half by drawing her 30th walk of the season. Caroline Easom missed a game-tying home run by a few feet of the left field foul pole. Cooper advanced into scoring position, courtesy of stealing second for her 10th stolen base of the season. Gentry Spinks grounded out to the pitcher to move Cooper to third before she came around to score on a passed ball.
 
Melnychuk made it six-straight Ragin' Cajuns by facing the minimum in the fifth.
 
In the bottom of the fifth, Bailey Wright had a one-out single by singling through the left side. Sacco followed with her second walk of the game. ULL then decided to bring in Kandra Lamb, who escaped the jam courtesy of a pop-out and strikeout.
 
In the top of the sixth, Melnychuk issued two ground outs and a lineout to run her streak of batters retired to nine. Tech was retired in order during the bottom of the sixth.
 
UL-Lafayette broke things open with a six-run top of the seventh inning. The Ragin' Cajuns plated the six runs courtesy of seven singles, an error and a walk to make it the final, 8-1.
 
Lamb retired Tech in order in the bottom of the seventh to pick up her fourth save of the season. Landry earned the win for ULL to improve to 15-4 on the season as the Ragin' Cajuns moved to 40-13. Floyd took the loss for Tech dropping to 8-8 on the year, while the Lady Techsters fell to 31-21.
 
NEXT UP
The Lady Techsters will travel to Bowling Green, Ky., to face Western Kentucky for their final Conference USA series this season which starts Friday 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.