By Stephen Featherston, Louisiana Tech Director of Strategic Communications; featured photo by Darrell James
RUSTON – Seven runs across three innings propelled the Louisiana Tech softball team to a 7-4 win over Southern Miss on Sunday afternoon at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. The Bulldogs finished the LA Tech Classic 2-2 after earning wins over ULM and USM and move to 4-5 on the season.
The Bulldogs had four players register two hits apiece in Elena Heng, Alexis Gilio, Alannah Rogers and Reagan Marchant. Paris Endrisand Marchant led the team with two RBI each, while Gilio and Rogers plated one run each.
Allie Floyd earned her fourth win of the season and moves to 4-2 in the circle after tossing 4.0 innings of relief work and striking out seven while allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits. Floyd relieved Alyssa Martin who recorded a quality start after pitching 3.0 innings and allowing one run on three hits to go along with three strikeouts.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Golden Eagles struck first in the final game of the LA Tech Classic as they plated one run in both the third and fourth inning to take a 2-0 lead. USM used an RBI single to score the first run and pushed a second across in the fifth after the second of the batter reached on an error and would score on a sac fly after getting into scoring position on a passed ball and a wild pitch.
The Bulldogs tied the game in the bottom of the fourth as Endris, who was making her first start of the season, recorded a two RBI single for her first hit of the season. Endris drove in Rogers who singled to start the inning and Raley who reached on a fielder’s choice.
LA Tech tacked onto its lead after plating four runs in the fifth inning to take a 6-3 lead. Allie Furr drew a pinch hit walk and advanced to second on a Gilio single. A throwing error advanced Gilio and Furr into scoring position which allowed Rogers to score Gilio on a single to left field to make it 5-3. Marchant hit her second home run of the weekend as she belted a ball to left center that brought the score to 6-3.
The Bulldogs scored one final run in the bottom of the sixth as Gilio tripled to right field to score Heng who reached on a fielder’s choice.
Southern Miss threatened in the bottom half as two runners reached base after a leadoff single, a strikeout and another single. Floyd who strike out the final two batters for her sixth and seventh strikeout of the night.
NOTEABLES
-LA Tech moves to 35-18 all-time against Southern Miss.
–Reagan Marchant recorded her second home run of the season.
–Reagan Marchant has a four-game hit streak.
–Alexis Gilio has a three-game hit streak.
–Alexis Gilio registered her first multi-hit game.
–Allie Floyd recorded her 30th strikeout of the season.
– Paris Endris logged her first hit and RBI of the season.
NEXT UP
The Bulldogs be back in action on Tuesday afternoon as Northwestern State comes to town for a 4:00 p.m. matchup at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.