RUSTON – Northern Iowa hit a leadoff home run and never trailed in a 9-2 win over Louisiana Tech on Saturday night at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field on day three of the Bulldog Classic.
 
The Bulldogs and Panthers each recorded 11 hits, but UNI collected six extra-base hits, including three home runs and three doubles. Tech's 11 hits were all singles.
 
LA Tech's three slap-hitters Elena Heng, Cali Bennett and Allie Furr all finished with two hits apiece. Aleah Brooks, Reagan Marchant, Reese Torres, Karli Sellers and Kaylee Grealy finished with one hit each. Marchant and Bradi Gallaway both drove in runs for the Bulldogs.
 
Bryannah Campos (3-2) started in the circle and took the loss after allowing three runs on four hits in the first inning. Laney Johnson logged five innings and allowed six runs on seven hits while striking out two. Ruby Fidge pitched the final frame and struck out two and did not allow a base runner.
 
UNI jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning on four hits, including a solo home run and a two-run single. The Panthers added a run in the second on a solo home run and another in the third on a solo shot to take a 5-0 lead.
 
Tech got on the board in the bottom of the third when Bennett scored on a sacrifice fly by Marchant after reaching on a single earlier in the inning. UNI pushed across two more runs in the fourth on back-to-back groundouts to make it 7-1.
 
The Bulldogs answered with a run in the bottom of the fourth as Gallaway scored Karli Sellers on an error by the shortstop. Sellers reached on a fielder's choice. UNI extended the lead to 9-2 in the sixth with a two-run double.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Josh Taylor
 
Coach Taylor's Postgame Comments.…
"We did not get a good start out of [Bryannah] Campos, so we have got to be able to start the game better than that. I mean, this time of the year we should know what we are going to get out of people. We felt she was a good matchup for them, but did not command really much of anything."

"I am happy with the 11 hits, but they were all singles. We have to be able to drive the ball in certain situations, and we certainly have to do a better job hitting with runners in scoring position. We are not getting those parts of it done.  All of our hits the last two days are coming from our left-handed slappers who are putting the ball on the ground and doing their job. Our kids that are here to drive in runs are not doing their job. They are doing a great job of setting tables. Sooner or later somebody's going to want to eat. I mean, it is really simple, and right now we are not getting any of that from any of our hitters. I think we got better at bats all night, so that is a positive sign."

"If you are going to win at this level, the opponent doesn't make any difference. You have to play quality softball, pitching, defense, timely hitting. And today we did not get any timely hitting, and we got below-average pitching. So it's not a winning formula. I mean, we have taught them the winning formula, and they have to go out and be able to execute. Right now they are not executing in all facets of the game every single night."

 NOTABLES
- UNI now leads the all-time series against Tech 2-1.
- This was LA Tech's first loss of the season when collecting 10 hits or more.
- Elena Heng registered her eighth multi-hit game of the season while Allie Furr totaled her seventh.
- Elena Heng upped her hit-streak to six games.
- Allie Furr has now reached base in nine straight games.
- Allie Furr and Aleah Brooks have both reached 20 hits on the season.  
 
NEXT UP
LA Tech will wrap up the Bulldog Classic tomorrow at noon against Central Arkansas. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.