Louisiana Tech University
New Mexico State
Trip to New Mexico State up next for LA Tech Softball
4/24/2024 3:14:00 PM | Softball
SERIES INFORMATION
Dates/Time: Friday, April 26, 7 p.m. | Saturday, April 27, 5 p.m. | Sunday, April 28, 1 p.m.
Location: New Mexico State | Las Cruces, N.M.
Watch: Friday | Saturday
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (27-17, 10-8 CUSA)
Louisiana Tech is 27-17 this season and coming off a tough 8-6 loss at Northwestern State. The Bulldogs raced out to a 4-1 lead after the third inning, but the Demons struck back with a two-run home run in the fifth and a five-run sixth inning to earn the comeback victory. Despite plating four runs and registering nine hits, the Bulldogs did not fully capitalize on their opportunities as they stranded 11 baserunners in the contest.
Paris Endris led the Dogs at the plate by collecting a career-high three hits with a double, an RBI, and a run scored in a 3-4 effort.
Nicole Hammoude (2-3, 1 R, 1 BB) and Brooke Diaz (2-3, 2 R, 1 BB) also registered multiple hits in the contest.
Caroline Easom is having an outstanding senior season. She ranks second on the team in batting average (.316), hits (42) and RBI (26). Easom has struck out just 13 times in 133 at-bats.
Hammoude leads LA Tech with 30 RBI and five home runs this season. She has drawn a walk in each of her last three games.
Center fielder Alexis Gilio leads LA Tech with a .363 batting average (Min. 100 at-bats) and 49 hits, 17 RBI, 27 Runs scored, 19 walks, and a team-leading 12 stolen bases. Defensively, Gilio has committed two errors in 80 chances. Gilio has robbed two home runs this season (at Jax State and at Ole Miss).
Opponents are hitting .257 against the Bulldogs' pitching staff in 2024. LA Tech has a team ERA of 2.72 and a 1.29 WHIP in 298.1 innings this season. In the last two seasons, the Bulldog pitchers have held opponents to two or fewer runs in 50 of their 99 games.
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 32 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 highly effective at keeping opposing baserunners in check. Diaz has thrown out 66.67% of runners attempting to steal this season. Diaz has thrown out 12 baserunners this season.
LA Tech has won seven games this season despite being outhit 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 98-61 in three seasons at Tech and 331-229 in his career. He previously served as head coach at Nevada (2017-2021) and Feather River College (2009-2012).
ABOUT NEW MEXICO STATE (26-19, 11-7 CUSA)
New Mexico State is 26-19 this season and 11-7 in Conference USA play. The Aggies did not have a midweek matchup and are coming off a 1-2 weekend at Liberty in which they lost the series opener (8-7, 10 inn.) and finale (4-3) while winning game two 6-2.
New Mexico State enters the matchup in third place in the CUSA standings, a game ahead of Louisiana Tech.
The Aggies are batting .298 as a team with 338 hits, 45 home runs, 203 RBI, and 228 runs scored.
New Mexico State is led by one of the best two-way players in college softball, Desirae Spearman. The freshman outfielder/pitcher is batting .371 with 36 hits, three doubles, two triples, 15 home runs, 35 RBI and 33 runs scored. In the circle, she is 8-2 with 52 strikeouts and a team-best 2.90 ERA.
Junior infielder Dezianna Patmon leads the Aggies with a .395 batting average in addition to 49 hits, 11 doubles, nine home runs, 34 RBI, 16 walks, and 32 runs scored. Senior Taylor Jillian is also one of the best hitters in the lineup with a .380 batting average, 49 hits, nine doubles, three triples, seven home runs, and 28 RBI.
New Mexico State's team ERA is 4.35, with 159 strikeouts and 345 hits allowed in 286.1 innings pitched. Jaileen Mancha is also a vital part of the New Mexico State pitching staff, with an 11-6 record, 3.41 ERA, and 51 strikeouts in 111 innings of work.
Kathy Rudolph is in her 21st season leading the Aggies with a record of 604-524. She owns a career head coaching record of 673-558 with a prior stop at Angelo State (2002-03).
SERIES HISTORYThe Bulldogs and Aggies will be meeting for the 33rd, 34th and 35th times this weekend. New Mexico State holds a 18-14 all-time lead in the series. New Mexico State won the last meeting, 3-0 on May 9, 2013 during the WAC Tournament in Ruston. Amanda Krueger, Erin Kipp and Melanie Goff each recorded a hit in the loss.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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