Winning streaks, national rankings, record-breaking performances – Louisiana Tech Athletics has opened 2026 with momentum in every direction.
Diamonds Are Shining
On the softball field, the Bulldogs are off to a 12-3 start – tied for the third-best 15-game opening in program history. They swept the Black & Gold Challenge and delivered a ranked win over Southeastern, the program's first ranked road victory since 2018.
In the circle, Allie Floyd, Bryannah Campos and Laney Johnson have set the tone. The trio is a combined 11-1 with five complete games and a 2.24 ERA. At the plate, freshmen Aleah Brooks and Bradi Gallaway have not played like newcomers, hitting north of .375 with 36 combined hits to jumpstart the offense.
On the other diamond, baseball is off to a 7-1 start – tied for the second-best start through eight games in the last 40 years. They swept a four-game opening series against Houston Christian, a 2025 NCAA Regional participant, and then claimed the Grind City Classic title with two wins over Ohio State and another over host Memphis.
Colby Lunsford has been electric, batting .483 with a 1.069 slugging percentage and four home runs. On the mound, Hudson Rowan, Declan Dahl and Brooks Roberson have been nearly untouchable. The trio has combined for six starts and six wins, each throwing 10+ innings while limiting opponents to a .175 average with ERAs under 1.60.
History on the Courts
The momentum has carried over to the courts.
The Bulldogs own a 6-2 mark and have won five of its last six, highlighted by a dramatic 4-3 comeback win at rival North Texas – the program's first victory in Denton since 1986.
The Bulldogs checked in at No. 64 in the latest ITA expanded rankings, tying the highest national team ranking in program history. Zoie Epps and Isabella Walker also debuted at No. 50 nationally in doubles, becoming the first Bulldogs to earn an individual national ranking. Both also pace the team in singles with a 6-1 record apiece.
Climbing the Rankings
The men's golf team has wasted no time making some noise this spring.
Through two tournaments, LA Tech has notched five wins over top 100 teams, including victories over No. 53 Rice and No. 57 South Alabama. As a result, the Bulldogs have climbed 31 spots in the national rankings.
Morton Bailey has delivered two top 20 finishes, including a tie for ninth at the Hal Williams Collegiate after shooting five-under par – his first collegiate top 10 finish. Abel Derksen matched him with a tie for ninth, marking the first time since 2022 that two Bulldogs finished in the top 10 of the same event.
Meanwhile, the bowling team continues to solidify its place among the nation's elite. Ranked No. 5 in the country – the second-highest ranking in program history – the Bulldogs finished fifth out of 36 teams at the Northeast Classic with an 11-2 record and recently registered five top 10 victories at the loaded Big Red Invite.
Records Falling Indoors
The indoor track and field program continues to rewrite the record book.
The men have already produced eight new top 10 indoor marks, while the women have added 13.
Sabastian Bradley-Reed broke his own school record in the 400 meters with a 46.60 and helped power a record-setting 4x400 relay (3:09.16) alongside Rickey Williams III, Cullen Hronek and Prentice Sanders. On the women's side, Jamara Patterson set new indoor records in both the 400 meters and 600 meters.
Streaking on the Hardwood
Women's basketball has been the headliner of the winter.
The Lady Techsters are riding a 14-game winning streak – the program's longest since 2010-11 – and have already secured the Conference USA regular season title, the 38th league championship in program history and second in CUSA.
Meanwhile, men's basketball is currently tied for fourth in the league standings as postseason play approaches.
