RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech Softball team dropped its series opener to UTEP, 1-0, in a pitchers' duel on Friday evening at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.

A one-out RBI single in the top of the third inning by Idalis Mendez was the difference-maker as it gave the Miners the only run they needed in the victory.

Offensively, the Bulldogs' woes returned as they tallied just two hits on the night. A fourth-inning bunt single by Claire Raley and a seventh-inning leadoff single by Kylie Neel were the two hits Tech would collect in the contest. Katelin Cooper also found her way on base with her 29th and 30th walks of the season.

In the circle, the Bulldog pitching staff competed and got big outs in critical situations throughout the game as UTEP stranded 15 runners on base. Allie Floyd (2.1 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 1 BB) made her 14th start of the season and took the loss to fall to 12-5. Mattison Buster (2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 1 BB) and Brook Melnychuk (2.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 1 K) combined for 4.2 shutout innings in relief.

Zaylie Calderon earned the win for UTEP in just her third start of the season by pitching five shutout innings while striking out five and allowing one hit. Faith Aragon (2.0 IP, 1 H, 1 BB, 2 K) would earn her first save by taking it the rest of the way.

NOTABLES
- Allie Floyd made her 14^th start of the season, matching her start total from last season.
- Claire Raley increased her reached-base streak to five games with a bunt single.
- LA Tech now leads the series with UTEP, 25-14.
- Katelin Cooper reached the 30-walk mark for the second consecutive season becoming the first Bulldogs since Morgan Turkoly (2018-19) to accomplish the feat.
- The Bulldogs are 97-59 under head coach Josh Taylor who owns a career head coaching record of 330-227.
 
QUOTABLES
On the game…
"We have to find a way to compete at the plate and have productive at-bats. I was proud of how our pitchers responded in tough situations today. I am looking forward to seeing how we respond tomorrow." - head coach Josh Taylor
 
HOW IT HAPPENED
Allie Floyd made the 14th start of the season for LA Tech, while UTEP went with Zaylie Calderon for just her third start this year. Calderon had primarily appeared in relief before tonight's contest.

UTEP put two on with two outs in the first inning. Ajia Richard drew a two-out walk, and Idalis Mendez singled before Floyd issued a 1-5-3 groundout to end the inning.
The Bulldogs went down in order in the bottom of the first inning.

Kenna Collett led off the second inning with a single to left center field that Alexis Gilio made an excellent play on to keep Collett from taking extra bases.
Calderon made it six straight retired with a 1-2-3 second inning.

In the top of the third inning, Halle Hogan singled up the middle with one out and moved to third on a single to the right-center field gap by Richard. UTEP took the early 1-0 lead on an RBI single by Mendez.  Marijn Crouwel then loaded the bases with a single up the middle. Following the single to load the bases, Tech made a pitching change and brought in freshman Mattison Buster, who would escape the jam with consecutive popouts.

Katelin Cooper became the Bulldogs' first base runner of the contest with two outs in the bottom of the third by drawing her team-leading 29th walk of the season. Cooper would steal second to advance into scoring position, but that was as far as Tech would get as Calderon spun her third consecutive scoreless frame.

Bri Garcia singled to shortstop to lead off the fourth inning. LA Tech Head Coach Josh Taylor used a challenge to dispute the call but was unsuccessful. Garcia moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a groundout to second. A walk by Hogan put runners on the corners with two outs. Buster escaped the jam by getting Richard to pop out to Nicole Hammoude at shortstop.

In the bottom of the fourth, Claire Raley led off the inning with a bunt single. Raley would be replaced at first by Gilio, who grounded into a fielder's choice. Gilio advanced into scoring position by stealing second, but once again, Calderon and the Miners kept the Bulldogs at bay and escaped unscathed. 

A pair of one-out singles from Crouwel and Collett put runners on first and second for UTEP. Buster was unfazed, however, as she issued flyouts to center field and right field to complete the inning.

Calderon retired the Bulldogs in order in the bottom of the fifth.

Brook Melnychuk entered the circle for the top of the sixth. She retired the leadoff batter with a fly out to Alannah Rogers in right field. Back-to-back singles by Lexi Morales and Hogan put runners on first and second before an error then loaded the bases for Idalis Mendez. LA Tech third baseman Claire Raley knocked down a screaming line drive and threw home to get the force for the second out of the inning. Louisiana Tech benefited from good scouting as Cooper snagged a line drive off the bat of Autumn Scott while positioned on the left-field line to end the inning.

Cooper led off the bottom of the sixth with her 30th walk of the season before advancing to second on a sacrifice bunt by Rogers. Following Cooper's walk, the Miners went to left-hander Faith Aragon to relieve Calderon, and she did so by picking up a ground out, strikeout, and groundout to keep the shutout intact.

In the seventh, Collett led off the inning with a base hit and then advanced to second on a bunt single Ashlynn Allen. A sacrifice bunt advanced the runners to second and third. Melnychuk then buckled down and issued a foul out and strikeout to end the inning.

Kylie Neel led off the bottom of the seventh with a line-drive single into right field. Neel advanced to second on a groundout by Caroline Easom for the first out of the inning. Hammoude walked to put the winning run on first base. Aubree Seaney then laced a line drive but right at the Miners' left fielder for the second out of the fame. UTEP secured game one of the series as Aragon ended it with a strikeout, and the Miners improved to 22-14 (8-8, CUSA), while LA Tech dropped to 26-15 (9-7).
 

NEXT UP
The Bulldogs will look to even the series tomorrow at 2 p.m. Following the contest, LA Tech will recognize all former players in attendance as part of Alumni Weekend.
 
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.