Monroe, La. – The Louisiana Tech Softball team earned dominant victories over Lindenwood (8-0, 5 inn.) and ULM (5-2) on the first day of the Warhawk Invitational.
 
Alyssa Martin and Allie Floyd combined for a no-hitter in the 8-0 run-rule win over Lindenwood in the first game of the day. It was the first no-hitter for Louisiana Tech since Feb. 24, 2019, when Preslee Gallaway no-hit Penn State in seven innings. Martin struck out three in three innings on her way to her first collegiate victory, while Allie Floyd struck out four in two innings of relief. Floyd was credited with a save, having entered the game with a three-run lead.
 
Aubree Seaney walked it off with her first career grand slam in the bottom of the fifth. In addition to Seaney, Alexis Gilio, Claire Raley, and Karli Sellers collected hits in the contest, while Kylie Neel and Gilio each drove in a run. Seaney's four RBI tied a career-high which she set against Tennessee Tech on Feb. 7, 2020 while she was at Tulsa.
 
The Bulldogs' (4-0) bats broke out in the 5-2 nightcap win over ULM. Led by a 4-4 night from Caroline Easom, Tech collected 14 hits as four Bulldogs recorded multiple hits in the contest. Gilio (3-4, 1 R), Seaney (2-4, 1 RBI), and Claire Raley (2-4, 1 HR, 1 RBI) joined Easom with multiple hits. Brooke Diaz, Kylie Neel, and Nicole Hammoude all collected a hit, and Karli Sellers drove in a run with an RBI.
 
Brook Melnychuk was magnificent in her second win of the season. Melnychuk silenced the Warhawks bats by striking out five and allowing just one unearned run on three hits.
 
The 4-0 start by Louisiana Tech is the best since 2019 when the eventual Conference USA Champions and NCAA Regional participant won its first eight games.

NOTABLES
- Alyssa Martin and Allie Floyd combined for the Bulldogs' first no-hitter since Feb. 24, 2019 when Preslee Gallaway no-hit Penn State in seven innings.
- The 8-0 run-rule victory over Lindenwood was the first run-rule win since March 5, 2023 when the Bulldogs defeated UMass-Lowell 8-0 in six innings.
- Aubree Seaney's grand slam was the first round-tripper of the season for LA Tech The round-tripper was the fifth in her career and her first career grand slam.
- Alexis Gilio increased her reached-base streak to four games by singling in both contests.
- Alyssa Martin recorded her first career win by throwing three scoreless innings in the win over Lindenwood.
- Seaney's four RBI in the win over the Lions tied a career-high which she set against Tennessee Tech on Feb. 7, 2020 while she was at Tulsa
- Alexis Gilio recorded the second three-hit game of her career by singling three times against ULM. Her first three-hit game came against Utah Tech on March 27, 2023 while she was at BYU.
- The Bulldog pitching Staff's streak without allowing a walk came to an end in the bottom of the third against ULM.
- The Bulldogs' 14 hits in the win over ULM were the most since May 12, 2022 when they also recorded 14 in a 16-8 win over Marshall in the Conference USA Tournament.
- Caroline Easom became the first Bulldog to collect four hits in a game since Amanda Gonzalez did so on April 30, 2022 in a 6-2 win over Middle Tennessee.
- The Bulldogs have now won 593 games started by an opposing right-handed pitcher since 2000.
- LA Tech is now 2-0 in day games this season.
- Josh Taylor is now 75-44 as head coach of the Bulldogs and 308-212 in his career.
- With the win, Tech has now leads the series over ULM 71-39.
- The Bulldogs now lead the all-time series with the Lions 1-0.
- Louisiana Tech now has 1,278 wins all-time.

QUOTABLES
"Our pitching was solid all day, which allowed our hitters to settle in and start to have quality at bats. I am proud of how are team competed today." – Head Coach Josh Taylor
 
GAME ONE
Alyssa Martin made her first start of the season and second start of her career for the Bulldogs, while Lindenwood's Avery Wapp got the ball for the third time this season.
 
Martin made quick work of the Lions in the top of the first. Designated player Amanda Weyh would reach on a fielding error, but that was all the Lions would get.
 
In the bottom half, Alexis Gilio was the Dogs' first baserunner of the game. She reached courtesy of getting plunked by a pitch and then stole second but would be stranded after back-to-back strikeouts to end the inning.
 
In the second inning, Martin fanned two during a 1-2-3 frame. Weyh replicated Martin's performance in the bottom half with a 1-2-3 inning of her own.
 
Martin breezed through the Lions in the third inning. The Bulldogs were able to break through offensively for a 2-0 lead. Caroline Easom led off the inning with a walk before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Karolyn Glover and then moving to third on a bunt single by Claire Raley. With runners on the corners and one out, Raley stole second, and Easom scored on a throwing error by Lindenwood's catcher for the game's first run. Gilio then extended the lead with a single up the middle that brought home Raley.
 
Allie Floyd relieved Martin in the top of the fourth inning and struck out one while facing the minimum.
 
In the fifth inning, Floyd struck out the side using a variety of fastballs and off-speed pitches to completely overwhelm the Lions' batters.
 
Karolyn Glover led off the bottom of the fifth with a walk and then stole second to get in scoring position. She would later come around to score on a throwing error. Another throwing error and a Nicole Hammoude walk loaded the bases. Aubree Seaney then stepped to the plate and smashed a line drive over the left field wall for a walk-off run-rule grand slam to give LA Tech an 8-0 win and solidify a combined no-hitter from Martin and Floyd.

GAME TWO
Brook Melnychuk made her second start of the year for Louisiana Tech, while Maddie Nichols made the start for ULM.
 
Kylie Neel lined a single into center field for the game's first hit with two outs in the top of the first. In the bottom of the first, the Warhawks got a leadoff single from Carys Platt, who advanced to second courtesy of a throwing error on the play. Platt would come around to score on an RBI single from Morgan Brown to give ULM the early 1-0 lead.
 
With two outs in the top of the second inning, Caroline Easom singled into left field, but that is all Tech could muster in its second trip to the plate. Melnychuk responded by striking out the side in the home half of the second inning.
 
Alexis Gilio legged out an infield single to second base in the third inning. Melnychuk kept dealing in the circle with another scoreless inning.
 
The Bulldogs' bats woke up in the fourth inning as they plated three on three hits, a sacrifice fly, and an error to take a 3-1 lead. Nicole Hammoude got things started with a one-out single before advancing to third on a double by Aubree Seaney. Easom singled for her second hit of the night to bring home both runners. Easom was able to take third on a throwing error before scoring on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Karli Sellers. Brooke Diaz doubled to the left centerfield gap in the next at-bat. Coach Josh Taylor pinch-ran Olivia Ellingson for Diaz, who would later get thrown out trying to score on a single by Caroline Easom to end the inning.
 
Melnychuk allowed a leadoff single in the ULM portion of the fourth. That would be it, however, as she retired the next three Warhawks, highlighted by a running grab in foul territory by Claire Raley.
 
In the top of the fifth, Gilio led off the inning by slapping a single past the diving ULM shortstop. A pitch then hit Kylie Neel to put two on with no outs. Following a flyout and strikeout, Aubree Seaney smashed a single through the right side to bring home Gilio and extend the Bulldogs' lead to 4-1. Caroline Easom followed with a single, but ULM escaped with minimal damage.

Melnychuk would spin her fourth consecutive scoreless frame at the bottom of the fifth. The only damage was a Carys Platt walk.
 
Claire Raley added some insurance in the sixth with a solo home run to center field to make it 5-1, LA Tech. Allie Floyd came in from the bullpen to pitch the sixth inning. ULM cut the lead to 5-2 in the home half of the sixth inning by way of an error.

In the seventh inning, Caroline Easom singled to center field to complete a four-for-four night. Floyd slammed the door on the Warhawks in the bottom of the seventh by retiring them in order.
 
NEXT UP
The Bulldogs are back in action tomorrow when they play Lindenwood (11 a.m.) and ULM (2 p.m.) to close out the Warhawk Invitational.
 
For all the latest in Bulldog Softball, follow them on Twitter (@LATechSB), Instagram (@LATechSB) and Facebook (Louisiana Tech Softball) or visit the official website at LATechSports.com.