Tuesday, April 23
Natchitoches, LA
6:00 PM
Louisiana Tech University
at
Northwestern State
Photo by: Darrell James
LA Tech Opens Road Trip at Northwestern State
4/22/2024 9:30:00 AM | Softball
RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech Softball team is back on the road this week as the Bulldogs travel to Northwestern State for a 6 p.m. in-state showdown with the Demons on Tuesday.
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 23, 6 p.m.
Location: Lady Demon Diamond | Natchitoches, La.
Watch: ESPN+
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (27-16, 10-8 CUSA)
Louisiana Tech is 27-16 this season and coming off a 1-2 weekend against UTEP. The Bulldogs had a thrilling 4-2 come-from-behind victory in the series finale against the Miners on Sunday. Trailing 2-0 with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, LA Tech tied the game on an RBI double by Kylie Neel combined with a Miners' throwing error on an overthrow past second base on the play that scored the tying run. Caroline Easom's bases-loaded two-RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning provided the winning runs in the win. In the circle, Mattison Buster earned her second career victory with three brilliant innings of shutout relief. Buster only allowed two hits while issuing no walks and striking out two Miners.
Easom is having an outstanding senior season. She ranks second on the team in batting average (.318), hits (41) and RBI (25). The Airline High School product has struck out just 13 times in 129 at-bats.
Nicole Hammoude leads LA Tech with 30 RBI and five home runs this season. Hammoude led off the Bulldogs' two-run game-winning bottom of the sixth inning with a single.
Center fielder Alexis Gilio has been the Dogs' best hitter this season. She leads LA Tech with a .377 batting average and 49 hits, 17 RBI, 27 Runs scored, 19 walks and a team-leading 12 stolen bases. Defensively Gilio has committed two error in 79 chances. Gilio has robbed two home runs this season (at Jax State, at Ole Miss)
Opponents are hitting .256 against the Bulldogs' pitching staff in 2024. LA Tech holds a team ERA of 2.63 and a 1.29 WHIP in 292.1 innings pitched this season. In the last two seasons the Bulldog pitchers have held opponents to two runs or less in 50 of their 98 games played.
Allie Floyd leads LA Tech in innings pitched (118.2) and strikeouts (66) this season while owning a 2.36 ERA. She has a 12-5 record and five saves this season. Floyd has held opponents to a .236 batting average in 2024.
Brook Melnychuk is 9-7 this season with a 2.78 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts. Opposing hitters are batting .237 against her.
Katelin Cooper leads LA Tech with 31 walks this season. She became the first Bulldog to post 30+ walks in consecutive seasons since Morgan Turkoly accomplished the feat from 2018-19.
Catcher Brooke Diaz has been extremely effective at keeping opposing baserunners in check. Diaz has thrown out 70.58% of runners attempting to steal this season.
LA Tech has won seven games this season despite being out-hit by opponents.
The Bulldogs reached the 1,300-win mark earlier this season, becoming the 39th DI program (DI and AIAW included) to accomplish the feat.
LA Tech is led by head coach Josh Taylor, who is 98-60 in three seasons at Tech and 331-228 in his career. He previously served as head coach at Nevada (2017-2021) and Feather River College (2009-2012).
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN STATE (16-27, 4-14 SLC)
Northwestern State is 16-27 this season and coming off a 2-1 series win against Texas A&M Commerce. The Demons dropped the opening game of the series, 2-1 before responding with a 6-0 win in game two and a 3-2 win in the series finale.
The Demons are batting .250 as a team with 269 hits, nine home runs, 121 RBI, and 135 runs scored.
Senior third baseman Tristin Court is the Lady Demons' most dangerous hitter. She has a team-best .333 batting average, 43 hits, 15 doubles, three home runs, and 28 RBI. Court played at Louisiana Tech as a freshman in 2021. Outfielder Taylor Williams is also above the .300 mark. She is batting .331 with 40 hits, five doubles, four triples, two home runs, 17 walks and 18 RBI.
In the circle, Northwestern State has a 3.70 team ERA and 203 strikeouts in 280.0 innings pitched. Maggie Darr is the Lady Demons' ace, with a 2.92 ERA in 108.0 innings pitched. She is 6-13 on the season.
Lacy Prejean is 16-27 in her inaugural season leading the Lady Demons. She replaced long-time head coach Donald Pickett on July 27, 2023. Before taking over head coaching duties at Northwestern State, she was an assistant at UL-Lafayette from 2019-23. Prejean was a four-time All-SEC catcher at Alabama from 2000-2003.
SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs and Demons will be meeting for the 113th time and second time this season on Tuesday. Louisiana Tech leads the all-time series with Northwestern State, 62-51 and carries a three-game series winning streak into the matchup. LA Tech took the first meeting this season, 2-1 on March 12, courtesy of Alexis Gilio's walk-off RBI single.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in LA Tech Softball, follow us on Twitter (@LATechSB), Instagram (@LATechSB), and Facebook (LATechSoftball).
GAME INFORMATION
Date/Time: Tuesday, April 23, 6 p.m.
Location: Lady Demon Diamond | Natchitoches, La.
Watch: ESPN+
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (27-16, 10-8 CUSA)
Louisiana Tech is 27-16 this season and coming off a 1-2 weekend against UTEP. The Bulldogs had a thrilling 4-2 come-from-behind victory in the series finale against the Miners on Sunday. Trailing 2-0 with one out in the bottom of the fifth inning, LA Tech tied the game on an RBI double by Kylie Neel combined with a Miners' throwing error on an overthrow past second base on the play that scored the tying run. Caroline Easom's bases-loaded two-RBI single with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning provided the winning runs in the win. In the circle, Mattison Buster earned her second career victory with three brilliant innings of shutout relief. Buster only allowed two hits while issuing no walks and striking out two Miners.
Easom is having an outstanding senior season. She ranks second on the team in batting average (.318), hits (41) and RBI (25). The Airline High School product has struck out just 13 times in 129 at-bats.
Nicole Hammoude leads LA Tech with 30 RBI and five home runs this season. Hammoude led off the Bulldogs' two-run game-winning bottom of the sixth inning with a single.
Center fielder Alexis Gilio has been the Dogs' best hitter this season. She leads LA Tech with a .377 batting average and 49 hits, 17 RBI, 27 Runs scored, 19 walks and a team-leading 12 stolen bases. Defensively Gilio has committed two error in 79 chances. Gilio has robbed two home runs this season (at Jax State, at Ole Miss)
Opponents are hitting .256 against the Bulldogs' pitching staff in 2024. LA Tech holds a team ERA of 2.63 and a 1.29 WHIP in 292.1 innings pitched this season. In the last two seasons the Bulldog pitchers have held opponents to two runs or less in 50 of their 98 games played.
Allie Floyd leads LA Tech in innings pitched (118.2) and strikeouts (66) this season while owning a 2.36 ERA. She has a 12-5 record and five saves this season. Floyd has held opponents to a .236 batting average in 2024.
Brook Melnychuk is 9-7 this season with a 2.78 ERA, 1.26 WHIP, and 50 strikeouts. Opposing hitters are batting .237 against her.
Katelin Cooper leads LA Tech with 31 walks this season. She became the first Bulldog to post 30+ walks in consecutive seasons since Morgan Turkoly accomplished the feat from 2018-19.
Catcher Brooke Diaz has been extremely effective at keeping opposing baserunners in check. Diaz has thrown out 70.58% of runners attempting to steal this season.
LA Tech has won seven games this season despite being out-hit by opponents.
The Bulldogs reached the 1,300-win mark earlier this season, becoming the 39th DI program (DI and AIAW included) to accomplish the feat.
LA Tech is led by head coach Josh Taylor, who is 98-60 in three seasons at Tech and 331-228 in his career. He previously served as head coach at Nevada (2017-2021) and Feather River College (2009-2012).
ABOUT NORTHWESTERN STATE (16-27, 4-14 SLC)
Northwestern State is 16-27 this season and coming off a 2-1 series win against Texas A&M Commerce. The Demons dropped the opening game of the series, 2-1 before responding with a 6-0 win in game two and a 3-2 win in the series finale.
The Demons are batting .250 as a team with 269 hits, nine home runs, 121 RBI, and 135 runs scored.
Senior third baseman Tristin Court is the Lady Demons' most dangerous hitter. She has a team-best .333 batting average, 43 hits, 15 doubles, three home runs, and 28 RBI. Court played at Louisiana Tech as a freshman in 2021. Outfielder Taylor Williams is also above the .300 mark. She is batting .331 with 40 hits, five doubles, four triples, two home runs, 17 walks and 18 RBI.
In the circle, Northwestern State has a 3.70 team ERA and 203 strikeouts in 280.0 innings pitched. Maggie Darr is the Lady Demons' ace, with a 2.92 ERA in 108.0 innings pitched. She is 6-13 on the season.
Lacy Prejean is 16-27 in her inaugural season leading the Lady Demons. She replaced long-time head coach Donald Pickett on July 27, 2023. Before taking over head coaching duties at Northwestern State, she was an assistant at UL-Lafayette from 2019-23. Prejean was a four-time All-SEC catcher at Alabama from 2000-2003.
SERIES HISTORY
The Bulldogs and Demons will be meeting for the 113th time and second time this season on Tuesday. Louisiana Tech leads the all-time series with Northwestern State, 62-51 and carries a three-game series winning streak into the matchup. LA Tech took the first meeting this season, 2-1 on March 12, courtesy of Alexis Gilio's walk-off RBI single.
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in LA Tech Softball, follow us on Twitter (@LATechSB), Instagram (@LATechSB), and Facebook (LATechSoftball).
Players Mentioned
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OF
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