RUSTON – The Louisiana Tech softball team held the lead for six innings against ULM on Saturday afternoon in game five of the LA Tech Classic, but a five-run seventh inning by the Warhawks tied the game and forced extra innings. ULM plated a run in the eighth to defeat the Bulldogs 9-8.

LA Tech moves to 3-5 on the season with the loss while ULM is now 2-6.

Allie Floyd earned the start in the circle and took the loss after giving up four runs on 11 hits and striking out three Warhawk batters. She pitched the first 4.0 innings before being reentered in the top of the seventh.

Alannah Rogers led the Bulldogs in the batter's box as she collected three hits and two RBI, with two of her hits going for extra bases. Elena Heng, Claire Raley and Nicole Hammoude all collected two hits apiece, while Raley and Hammoude joined Rogers with two RBI.

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 2-0 lead after the bottom of the first inning as Alexis Gilio drew a leadoff walk and would come around to score on a double from Rogers. Raley connected on a single to right center to push across Rogers for the 2-0 lead.

Tech posted one run in the third as Gracie Flores reached home safely after pinch running for Karolyn Glover who walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch. A Gilio single allowed Flores to reach third followed by a throwing error from the ULM catcher that brought her home.

ULM tied the game in the top of the third inning with a three-run home run, but LA Tech responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth to take back the lead at 6-3. Rogers reached base after being hit by a pitch and came around to score on a Hammoude double, that also plated Raley who received an intentional walk. Hammoude came around to score the sixth run of the game on a KB Briley single to left field to make it 6-3 LA Tech.

LA Tech plated two runs in the fourth as Heng singled and stole second to start the inning and reached home on Rogers' second double of the ball game. A Reagan Marchant single placed Rogers in scoring position and allowed her to score on a Raley fielder's choice to make it 8-3 Bulldogs.

ULM responded with a five-run seventh inning to tie the game on a solo home run, followed by back-to-back doubles that plated three runs to make it 8-7 LA Tech. The Warhawks tied it up at 8-8 on a single up the middle.

LA Tech loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh with no outs but were unable to push across a run after a double play and an unassisted out at second base.

The Warhawks pushed across the winning run on a bunt single after LA Tech allowed back-to-back singles to start the frame, along with a wild pitched that allowed the leadoff batter to reach third.

NOTEABLES
- LA Tech's 14 hits are the most in a game since the Bulldogs registered 14 against ULM on February 16, 2024. 
- The Bulldogs have recorded 14 hits on six occasions under head coach Josh Taylor's leadership. 
-LA Tech moves to 73-40 all-time against ULM.
-Allie Furr recorded her first collegiate hit.
-Alannah Rogers matched her career high with three hits.
-The Bulldogs tallied three extra base hits, all of which were doubles.
-Elena Heng recorded her first career multi-hit game.
-Claire Raley registered her fifth multi-hit game of the season.
-Nicole Hammoude collected her fourth multi-hit game of the season.
-Karolyn Glover recorded a new career-high with three walks.

NEXT UP
The Bulldogs will close out the LA Tech Classic tomorrow afternoon as they take on Southern Miss at 4:00 p.m. CT. The game will be live streamed on ESPN+.