By Stephen Featherston, Louisiana Tech Director of Strategic Communications; featured photo by Josh McDaniel
RUSTON — Louisiana Tech led 3-0 over Liberty before six unanswered runs over four innings propelled the Flames to a 6-3 win on Sunday afternoon at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. The loss moves LA Tech to 29-21 (14-10 CUSA).
The Bulldogs led 3-0 after three innings before the Flames scored one in the fourth, one in the sixth, and four in the seventh. Liberty outhit LA Tech 7-3.
Reagan Marchant led the Bulldogs at the plate with one hit and two RBI. She hit a two-run home run, her 16th of the season and her second of the series. Nicole Hammoudecollected one hit and one RBI, while Alexis Gilio recorded an infield single. Allie Furrscored two of the Bulldogs’ runs, with the other coming from Marchant.
Allie Floyd made her 25th start of the season and moves to 20-10 after taking the loss. She pitched a 7.0 inning complete game and gave up six runs (three earned) on seven hits, while walking five and striking out four.
Elena Escobar started for Liberty and tossed a complete game, while allowing three runs on three hits with five punch-outs.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bulldogs struck first in the bottom of the first as Hammoude singled up the middle to score Furr from second. Fur led off the inning with a walk and got into scoring position after stealing her sixth base of the season.
Floyd worked a scoreless second inning as she worked around a leadoff single and a walk. The Flames were able to move both runners over 60 feet on a sac bunt, but a lineout and a strikeout ended Liberty’s scoring threat.
The Bulldogs went down in order in the bottom of the second, followed by a three-up-three-down top of the third for Liberty.
LA Tech added two runs to its lead in the bottom of the third to make it a 3-0 game as Marchant hit a two-run home run to left that scored Furr. Furr reached base on a fielding error earlier in the frame.
Liberty cut the lead to two in the top of the fourth as they used a single and a double to score a run, making it 3-1 LA Tech.
LA Tech went down in order in the bottom of the fourth, while both teams went down in order in the fifth.
The Flames cut the lead to 3-2 in the top of the sixth as they recorded two two-out hits on a bunt and single to score. LA Tech got two runners on base as Gilio singled to start the bottom of the frame, followed by a Marchant Walk. The Bulldogs were unable to make anything of it, leaving two runners stranded.
Down by one entering the seventh, Liberty scored four runs on two hits and two errors to take a 6-3 lead. Floyd allowed a leadoff walk, followed by a strikeout for the first out. The Flames then reached on a fielding error that would have been an easy second out. Both runners moved up 60 feet on a wild pitch, followed by a walk to load the bases. A double to left scored two runs to make it 4-3 Liberty. A walk would load the bases, followed by a foul out and a fielding error on the throw in which allowed a runner to tag safely. A single would plate a fourth run, making it 6-3 Liberty.
NOTABLES
LA Tech moves to 0-9 all-time against Liberty.
That was LA Tech’s 50th game of the season.
Allie Floyd made her 25th start of the season in the circle.
Karli Sellers made her 3rd start of the season.
Reagan Marchant hit her 16th home run of the season and needs just one more to tie the LA Tech single season home run record.
Allie Furr stole her sixth base of the season.
Alexis Gilio and Nicole Hammoude are now tied with Elena Heng for the team’s lead in hits (52).
The Bulldogs honored five seniors for senior day. (KB Briley, Alexis Gilio, Nicole Hammoude, Alyssa Martin, Claire Raley).
NEXT UP
The Bulldogs will be back in action on Tuesday night as they travel to Lake Charles to take on McNeese. First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. The game will not be streamed.
