By Stephen Featherston, Louisiana Tech Director of Strategic Communications; featured photo by Stephen Featherston
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Louisiana Tech finished its weekend with a 3-2 record in the Southern Miss Black and Gold Challenge after falling to Lamar 5-4 in walk-off fashion on Sunday afternoon.
The Cardinals used a two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure the win. The loss moves LA Tech to 10-9 on the season.
Nicole Hammoude led the Bulldogs with two hits and two RBI. Reagan Marchant collected one hit and one RBI, while Alannah Rogersalso recorded an RBI. Claire Raley, Elena Heng, and Marchant all had one hit apiece.
Allie Floyd made her ninth start of the season in the circle and pitched 4.0 innings, while giving up two runs on three hits along with seven strikeouts. Ryleigh Shull faced one batter in the fifth before Alyssa Martin finished the inning, along with the sixth. Martin allowed one run on two hits with one strikeout in 2.0 innings of work.
Mattison Buster took the loss after allowing three hits and two runs in the bottom of the seventh.
HOW IT HAPPENED
LA Tech jumped out to an early 3-0 lead after scoring one run in the first and two in the second. Rogers scored the first run of the game as she reached base after drawing a 3-2 walk. Marchant singled to center to place Rogers in scoring position, followed by a Hammoude single to left center to push across Rogers.
The Bulldogs loaded the bases in the top of the second as KB Briley and Allie Furr drew back-to-back walks, followed by an error that allowed Alexis Gilio to reach base. Heng reached on a fielder’s choice that the Bulldogs were unable to score on, as Briley was out at home on the force. Rogers recorded an RBI on a fielder’s choice that scored Furr. After another fielder’s choice and force play at home. Marchant drew a bases loaded walk to score the second run of the inning, making it 3-0 LA Tech.
Lamar cut the lead to one after scoring two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, The Cardinals registered three straight base knocks including a single, double, and a single to plate their two runs to make it 3-2 Tech, and followed that with one more run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game at three apiece.
The Cardinals loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth, using a hit by pitch and two singles, and were able to score on a sac fly to tie the game.
LA Tech took a 4-3 lead in the top of the seventh as Raley led the inning off with a single and advanced to third on a stolen base and passed ball. Hammoude recorded her second hit and RBI of the day as she was able to plate Raley on a single up the middle.
Lamar led off the bottom of the frame with a double down the left field line and would get a second runner aboard on a bunt single. A stolen base would allow the Cardinals to place to in scoring position, setting them up for a walk-off base hit to secure the 5-4 victory.
NOTABLES
The Bulldogs move to 7-2 all-time against Lamar.
LA Tech finishes 6-7 in early season neutral site matchups.
Allie Floyd made her 10th start of the season in the circle.
Allie Floyd recorded her seventh straight game with 5+ strikeouts.
Mattison Buster moves to 1-2 after taking the loss.
Elena Heng recorded her seventh stolen base of the season.
Nicole Hammoude registered her fifth multi-hit game of the season and her fifth multi-RBI game of the year.
Claire Raley extended her sitting streak to seven games, while Hammoude extended hers to five.
Reagan Marchant extended her reached base stream to 14 games.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Tuesday evening as Stephen F. Austin will come visit Dr. Billy Bundrick Field for a 6:00 p.m. first pitch.