RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech Softball team continued its winning ways with an 8-0 (5 inn.) run-rule victory over Grambling State on Tuesday night at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
 
Nicole Hammoude highlighted the LA Tech (23-6) offense by hitting a first-inning grand slam to open the scoring. The grand slam was her third home run of the season, tying Claire Raley for the team lead. Hammoude has now homered in back-to-back games as she belted a three-run shot in the win over WKU on Sunday. Kylie Neel had a 2-2 day with a double and a run scored. Paris Endris drove in two runs with a fourth-inning single, giving Tech its seventh and eighth runs of the contest. Ella Rose Wright collected an RBI single, while Alannah Rogers and Katelin Cooper recorded hits, and Alexis Gilio drove in a run.
 
The Bulldogs' pitching staff dominated in the win, allowing just one hit and no walks in the contest. Grambling State designated player Tavia Leadon singled in the third at-bat of the game, recording the Tigers' lone hit in the contest. Following the single, the Tech pitching staff retired the next 13 batters. Alyssa Martin (2-0) earned the win by throwing three perfect innings in relief while striking out two. Mattison Buster threw two scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out one in her third start of the season.
 
Sherrell Matthews (1 IP, 3 H, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 K, 1 HBP) took the loss for Grambling State (10-18) to fall to 0-6 on the season.
 
NOTABLES
- Nicole Hammoude hit her third home run of the season with her first career grand slam in the first inning. Hammoude's grand slam was the second this year as Aubree Seaney accomplished the feat first in an 8-0 run-rule win over Lindenwood on Feb. 17.
- Hammoude became the first Bulldogs to homer in back-to-back games since Claire Raley who accomplished the feat on Feb. 17 (ULM) and Feb. 20 (ULL) of this season.
- The run-rule victory was fourth of the season for Tech.
- The Bulldogs only took one hour and 18 minutes to run-rule the Lady Tigers, the quickest game for LA Tech since a 8-0 loss at Tulsa on March 28, 2021. Current Bulldog Aubree Seaney drove in a run with a sacrifice fly for the Golden Hurricane in that contest.
- Katelin Cooper extended her reached-base streak to 10 games with a single in the victory.
- Alyssa Martin recorded her second victory of the season with three perfect innings of relief.
- The Bulldogs did not walk a single batter in the contest, marking the 30^th time the feat has been accomplished under pitching coach Chelsea Cohen (2022-now). When not walking a batter, LA Tech is 24-6.
- LA Tech is 17-1 this season when out-hitting an opponent.
- The Bulldogs lead the all-time series with Grambling State 23-0. The Bulldogs have shutout the Tigers in 13 of their 23 victories.
- LA Tech is now 15-10 all-time on March 26.
- The Bulldogs are 94-50 under head coach Josh Taylor who owns a career head coaching record of 327-218.
- The win was the 1,298^th in program history.
- LA Tech is 22-4 this season in games started by a right-handed pitcher.
- Since 2000, Louisiana Tech has a 244-121 record when hitting at least one home run. The Bulldogs are 11-1 when homering this season.

QUOTABLES
On the game…
"We took care of business. Hammoude with the grand slam in the first inning created some separation which allowed us to do a lot of different things. We got to see Mattison Buster start the game and had a good outing. Alyssa Martin did a really good job of keeping them off-balanced and putting zeros on the board. We were efficient with our pitch count and at-bats. We took our walks when we needed them to create the big inning. I was happy with tonight. We took care of business and we have a long road trip in front of us with Liberty this weekend and we are on to that now," - head coach Josh Taylor
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Freshman Mattison Buster made her fourth start of the season for Louisiana Tech, while the Lady Tigers went with Sherrell Matthews.
 
Mattison Buster struck out Katelynn Walls to start the game. She then issued a flyout to right field before the Lady Tigers' Tavia Leadon singled to right center. Buster got Ta'Mya Johnson to pop out to Seaney at first to end the inning.
 
Alannah Rogers led off the bottom of the first with a walk. With one out, Alexis Gilio was hit by a pitch. A two-out walk by Aubree Seaney loaded the bases for the Bulldogs. Nicole Hammoude broke things open with a grand slam to left-center field that put the Bulldogs ahead 4-0. It was Hammoude's second consecutive game with a home run and her first career grand slam. Kylie Neel followed with a double to center field and later came around to score on a single to left-center by Ella Rose Wright, giving Tech a 5-0 lead.
 
In the top of the second, Buster worked a 1-2-3 inning. Rogers led off the home half with a double and came around to score on a groundout to second by Gilio.
 
Alyssa Martin relieved Buster in the third inning. She struck out two while retiring the Lady Tigers in order. Neel singled through the right side for her second hit of the game in the bottom of the third, but that was all the Dogs could muster.
 
Martin made it six straight Grambling State batters retired with a 1-2-3 fourth inning. Katelin Cooper singled up the middle to lead off the bottom of the fourth. Olivia Ellingson grounded into a fielder's choice and replaced Cooper at first. Gilio walked with two outs in the inning and later advanced with Ellingson on a wild pitch. Kaylee Grealy followed with a walk to load the bases. Paris Endris then stepped to the plate and hit a ground-ball single up the middle to bring home Ellingson and Gilio and make it the final 8-0.

Martin ended the run-rule victory by issuing ground outs to her three batters faced in the top of the fifth.

NEXT UP
The Bulldogs will travel to Lynchburg, Va. for a crucial Conference USA series with Liberty, beginning on Thursday at 5 p.m.
 
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.