LAS CRUCES, N.M. – The Louisiana Tech softball team was defeated by Liberty, 5-0 in an elimination game at the CUSA Championship on Friday afternoon at the New Mexico State Softball Complex.
The Bulldogs could not muster enough offense in the loss, totaling three hits and a walk. Alexis Gilio highlighted the LA Tech efforts with a 2-3 day at the plate, highlighted by a one-out double in the top of the first inning. Alannah Rogers was the other Bulldog to record a hit in the contest. The Surprise, Ariz. product singled to second base in the sixth inning. Kylie Neel also reached courtesy of a hit-by-pitch and a walk.
Allie Floyd pitched effectively in her 20th start of the season. The sophomore right-hander allowed just three runs on four hits and two walks while striking out two batters in five innings of work.
Kaylan Yoder earned the complete-game shutout for Liberty. The freshman left-hander struck out seven while allowing three hits and a walk.
NOTABLES
- Alexis Gilio recorded her 21st multi-hit game with a single and a double in the contest.
- The Bulldogs have recorded 32 wins this season which is tied for the 21st most in program history.
- LA Tech is now 11-12 all-time in the Conference USA Tournament.
- Caroline Easom tied the LA Tech career record in double plays turned by turning her 56th with a 6-4-3 double play to end the bottom of the third inning. She now holds the record with Karlee Jensen (2015-18).
- The Bulldogs are 103-66 under head coach Josh Taylor who owns a career head coaching record of 336-234.
QUOTABLES
On the season…
"Overall, I am proud of this group. I think they battled all year. We had some struggles at times on the offensive end but I felt like we had a really good year. We are looking to continue to build this program and do damage in Conference USA and get to an NCAA Regional. That is always the goal and that is what we are going to work for. I am proud of the team and how they battled and I am especially proud of our pitchers and how they have competed." -head coach Josh Taylor.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Allie Floyd made her 20th start of the season for Louisiana Tech, while the Flames went with freshman standout Kaylan Yoder.
Alexis Gilio recorded the game's first hit courtesy of a double to left-center field with one out in the top of the first. Kylie Neel was robbed of a base hit by the Flames' left fielder KK Madrey to end the inning.
In the bottom half, Floyd struck out Mary-Claire Wilson to start things off before issuing a groundout and another strikeout to complete a 1-2-3 inning.
Yoder retired the Bulldogs in order during the top of the second inning. Megan Fortner led off the bottom half with a hard-hit single up the middle and would advance to second on a groundout. KK Madrey walked to put two on with two outs before Liberty took a 1-0 lead on an RBI single from Raigan Barrett. A sacrifice bunt scored Madrey, and an RBI single from Rachel Craine made it 3-0 in favor of Liberty.
Yoder's dominance continued into the third inning as she struck out the side. Floyd responded with a scoreless bottom of the third inning as Nicole Hammoude and Caroline Easom turned an inning-ending 6-4-3 double play.
Neel was the only LA Tech baserunner in the top of the fourth after being hit by a pitch. Floyd worked through a 1-2-3 bottom of the fourth with a flyout and a pair of groundouts.
Both sides were kept off the scoreboard in the fifth inning. The Flames' Wilson recorded the lone hit of the inning with a single to center field.
Alannah Rogers singled to second base with one out in the sixth inning and advanced to second base on an infield single from Gilio. Rogers took third on a foul out down the right-field line. Yoder then walked Neel to load the bases. Liberty would escape the bases-loaded jam with a flyout to left-center field.
Brook Melnychuk came in to pitch the bottom of sixth inning. Melnyhcuk quickly retired the first two batters with a foul-out and groundout. Madrey singled to left field, and a pitch hit Raigan Barrett. Brooke Roberts added another Liberty run with a single to centerfield before Barrett scored on a wild pitch to make it 5-0.
Yoder retired the Bulldogs in order in the seventh to earn the complete-game shutout and advance Liberty to the final game of the elimination bracket.
NEXT UP
With the loss the Bulldogs are eliminated from the CUSA Championship.
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