LYNCHBURG, Va. – The Louisiana Tech Softball team dropped game two of its series at Liberty, 3-0, on Friday afternoon at the Liberty Softball Stadium.
 
For the second consecutive game, the Bulldogs were kept in check offensively as Liberty pitcher Katie Love threw a complete-game shutout while allowing just three hits, one walk, and one hit batter in seven innings of work.
 
Alannah Rogers led LA Tech at the plate with a bunt single and a walk. In additon to Rogers, Katelin Cooper and Gentry Spinks both singled and Aubree Seaney was hit by a pitch. 
 
Mattison Buster was impressive in relief once again for Louisiana Tech. The freshman struck out three, allowing just one run on three hits and one walk in the 3.1 innings. Brook Melnychuk started for the Bulldogs and took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits and four walks while striking out four in 2.2 innings of work.
 
NOTABLES
- Gentry Spinks collected her second hit of the season with a pinch-hit single in the seventh. Spinks' single was the Bulldogs eighth hit this season in pinch hit situations and 177 this millennium.
- Alannah Rogers reached on a bunt single in the top of the first, marking the second consecutive game the Dogs' had a runner reach on a bunt single in the first inning.
- LA Tech is now 12-10 all-time on March 29.
- The Bulldogs are 94-52 under head coach Josh Taylor who owns a career head coaching record of 327-220.

QUOTABLES
On the game…
"Same story as yesterday. Our hitters have to find a way to generate some runs. Tomorrow is a new day and our hitters will be better." - head coach Josh Taylor
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Louisiana Tech started Brook Melnychuk for the 12th time this season while Liberty went with freshman Katie Love.
 
Alannah Rogers led off the game with a bunt single to become the Bulldogs' only baserunner in the first. In the bottom half, Melnychuk struck out Rachel Roupe for the first out of the inning. The Flames' Mary Claire Wilson reached on a walk after a questionable illegal pitch call resulted in ball four. Katelin Cooper made a nice over the shoulder grab for the second out of inning before Melnychuk struck out Megan Fortner for the final out of the frame.
 
Nicole Hammoude reached on an error by the Liberty third baseman Rachel Craine with one out in the top of the second inning. With one out in the home half, KK Madrey laid down a bunt single, then took second on a throwing error before advancing to third on a passed ball. Melnychuk would get a pop out to second for out No. 2 before fanning JaMaya Byrum to escape the frame and keep Liberty off the scoreboard.

Rogers reached base again with a one-out walk in the top of the third. Liberty put runners on first and third with no outs in the bottom half. Melnychuk retired the next two batters courtesy of a groundout and strikeout. With two outs and first base open, Tech intentionally walked Megan Fortner (.272 avg.) to face a .188 hitter, Brynn McManus, who would draw a bases-loaded walk and give the Flames a 1-0 lead. Liberty would then walk again to increase its lead to 2-0. Mattison Buster got the last out in relief of Melnychuk by issuing a flyout to Easom in shallow right field.
 
The Bulldogs came up empty-handed in their fourth trip to the plate as Love retired Tech in order. Buster was impressive in the bottom half. The freshman struck out two while spinning a perfect inning.
 
A pitch hit Aubree Seaney to start the fifth inning. Cooper later singled down the left field line to put runners on first and second with just one out, but Love escaped the jam with a strikeout and a flyout to the warning track in center field. Liberty extended its lead to 3-0 in the bottom of the fifth, courtesy of a leadoff triple by Wilson and an RBI single from Sierra Kersten.
 
Love registered a 1-2-3 inning in the sixth. Buster answered with a scoreless frame in the bottom half that featured her third strikeout of the day.
 
In the top of the seventh, Gentry Spinks registered her second hit of the season with a two-out pinch-hit single, but that was all Love would yield as she wrapped up the complete game performance while giving Liberty (19-14, 9-2 CUSA) the series win.

NEXT UP
The Bulldogs will look to salvage the series with a win in the series finale at 11 a.m. tomorrow.
 
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