RUSTON – Louisiana Tech softball returns to the diamond for its home opener on Thursday against Louisiana Monroe at 4:00 p.m. The matchup versus ULM will be one of two contests between the Bulldogs and the Warhawks this weekend as LA Tech will play four games in the Louisiana Tech Classic Feb. 13-16.
The Bulldogs will face No. 13 Arkansas on Friday at 6:00 p.m., followed by a 4:00 p.m. matchup with ULM on Saturday and 4:00 p.m. game against Southern Miss on Sunday to close out the four-team event.
SERIES INFORMATION
Date/Time: Feb. 13-16, 2025
Location: Dr. Billy Bundrick Field (Ruston, La.)
Watch: ESPN+ (LA Tech Games will be Streamed)
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
ULM Series History: LA Tech, 72-39
Arkansas Series History: UA, 4-1
Southern Miss Series History: LA Tech, 34-18
ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (2-3, 0-0 CUSA)
LA Tech enters its home opener with a 2-3 record after playing five games in four days in the Puerto Vallarta College Challenge in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. The Bulldogs defeated No. 4 Oklahoma State 6-1 for the program's first win over a top 10 ranked team since the 2008 season, one day after defeating Northern Colorado 9-4 for their first win of the season. The Bulldogs dropped two games to No. 12 Florida State and fell to UNC it the final game of the PV Challenge.
The Bulldogs had two players record .500 batting averages or better in
Claire Raley and
Nicole Hammoude. Raley registered a .533 batting average, collecting eight hits in 15 at bats including two extra base knocks. She scored six runs for the Bulldogs and finished with two RBI. She registered a .733 slugging percentage and logged 11 total bases. Hammoude was 7-of-14 at the plate, finishing with four RBI, four runs and one home run. She registered at least one hit in all five games, including a two-hit performance versus Florida State on Friday afternoon.
Transfers
Addison Snyder and
Reagan Marchant have both recorded four hits apiece, along with returning center fielder
Alexis Gilio. Snyder, Marchant and true Freshman
Elena Heng all recorded their first collegiate hits in the season opener against Northern Colorado. Snyder ranks third on the team with three RBI, followed by Raley, Gilio,
KB Briley and
Allie Furr who all have two.
Allie Floyd led the Bulldogs in the circle during the first week of play, finishing with a 2-1 record. The junior pitched two complete games including a complete game performance in the Bulldogs historic upset win over No. 4 Oklahoma State. Floyd limited the No. 4 ranked Cowgirls, who are coming off a trip to the World Series to one run on seven hits while striking out four.
Floyd's first victory of the weekend came against Northern Colorado, who reached the NCAA Regionals last season. She held the Bears to four runs on seven hits while fanning six batters. The right-hander from Texas finished the weekend with a 3.29 ERA along with 12 strikeouts and made the PV Challenge All-Tournament team for her efforts.
True freshman
Ryleigh Shull had a strong start to her collegiate campaign as she made three relief appearances in the circle during opening weekend. The lefty from West Virginia logged 8.2 innings and struck out seven batters while allowing seven runs on eight hits. Shull tossed 4.0 innings in the second game against UNC and struck out four.
ABOUT No. 13 ARKANSAS (5-0, 0-0 CUSA)
Arkansas enters the LA Tech Classic with a 5-0 record after outscoring its opponents 40-4 in the five-game Texas State Tournament. The Razorbacks posted a program record in a 23-0 win against Lipscomb.
Bri Ellis paced the Hogs offensively during opening weekend, finishing with six hits in 12 at-bats, nine RBI, three home runs, five runs and 15 total bases. Ella McDowell and Kailey Wyckoff both recorded five hits, while Courtney Day also hit three home runs and is second on the team with seven RBI. The Hogs have blasted nine home runs through five games.
Payton Burnham picked up two wins in the circle, while Reis Beuerlein, Lexi King, and Robyn Herron all have one. Cam Harrison leads the team with 12 strikeouts, while Burnham has 10.
ABOUT ULM (1-4, 0-0 SBC)
ULM enters Thursday with a 1-4 record after playing five games in the Houston Classic. The Warhawks dropped two games to Lamar before bouncing back to beat Houston Christian 6-5. ULM played the University of Houston close, falling 13-10 and 15-11. Brooklin Lippert leads the Warhawks with a .500 batting average after finishing with nine hits in 18 at-bats in the Houston Classic. Morgan Brown and Maryssa Zenzen both have eight hits apiece, while Zenzen leads the team with eight RBI.
Dakota Lake picked up the win in the Circle against HCU and leads the team in innings pitched (10.2) strikeouts (four), and ERA (4.59).
ABOUT SOUTHERN MISS (1-4, 0-0 SBC)
The Golden Eagles sit at 1-4 after playing give games in the NFCA D1 Lead off Classic in Clearwater, Fla. USM picked up a 6-2 win over Marshall after falling 12-2 to Nebraska to start the season. The Golden Eagles then dropped three straight to Pittsburgh (1-8), Kentucky (3-13), and Northwestern (1-2).
Kayce Bennett and Hannah Christian lead the team with four hits apiece, while Maddie Weeks leads the group with four RBI. Jana Lee holds a 1-1 record in the circle and leads the team with 14.0 innings and 11 strikeouts.
