HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Louisiana Tech softball team closed out the Southern Miss Black and Gold Challenge with an 8-3 extra-inning win against Southern Miss on Sunday, marking Tech's first 4-0 start since 2024.
 
In a back-and-forth game through seven innings, the Bulldogs entered extra innings tied 3-3 before erupting for five runs on five hits in the top of the eighth to secure an 8-5 win over the Golden Eagles.
 
Allie Floyd made the start in the circle but was pulled after allowing three hits, three runs (two earned) and four walks. Freshman Bryannah Campos (2-0) excelled in relief, tossing the final 4.2 innings to earn the win. Campos allowed two hits, no runs, one walk and struck out three.
 
Aleah Brooks led the Bulldogs with three hits and three RBI in the win, while Reese Torres, Bradi Gallaway and Elena Heng collected two hits apiece. Torres and Gallaway each finished with two RBI while Allie Furr drove in one run.
 
LA Tech jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning as Heng led off with a single and Furr drew a walk to put two runners on. Reagan Marchant followed with a fielder's choice, and Gallaway and Brooks then delivered back-to-back singles to drive in Furr and Marchant.
 
USM cut the lead to one in the bottom of the frame, using a single and three walks to score a run. The Golden Eagles tied the game at two apiece in the bottom of the second inning on a sac fly. LA Tech added one run in the third as Brooks double to center to drive in Gallaway who drew a walk earlier in the inning.
 
Southern Miss took advantage of leadoff walk, a sac bunt and bunt to tie the game at 3-3 in the top of the fourth.
 
Quiet through the next three innings, LA Tech erupted for five runs on three hits to take an 8-3 lead in the top of the eighth. Back-to-back walks to Avery Jefferson and Rogers put two Bulldogs on base, while Heng moved both runners into scoring position with a sacrifice bunt. Furr reached on a fielder's choice to drive in Jefferson, followed by a walk to Marchant. Torres then singled to center to score Furr and Rogers, and Gallaway followed with a single to left to plate Carolina Eidson, who entered as a pinch runner for Marchant. Brooks capped the scoring by driving in Torres with a single to left field to make it 8-3. 
 
Campos retired the side in order in the bottom of the frame with a flyout, strikeout and lineout to secure the win.
 
NOTABLES
- LA Tech has started 4-0 for the first time since 2024.
- The Bulldogs have now won six straight games against Southern Miss dating back to 2021.
- Head coach Josh Taylor improves to 139-91 as LA Tech's head coach.
- Bryannah Campos moves to 2-0 after picking up the win in relief.
- The Bulldogs outhit the Golden Eagles 11-5.
- Aleah Brooks registered her third multi-hit game of the young season and her second career three-hit performance.
- Reese Torres moves her hit streak to seven games.
- Reese Torres and Bradi Gallaway tallied their first multi-hit games of the season
- LA Tech hitters struck out just twice in the win.
- Elena Heng is up to 21 career-multi hit games after collecting two in the win.
 
NEXT UP
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Wednesday as they travel to Hammond to face Southeastern. First pitch from North Oak Park is slated for 5:00 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.