By Stephen Featherston, Louisiana Tech Director of Strategic Communications; featured photo by Stephen Featherston
MIAMI — Louisiana Tech outhit Florida International on Saturday night at FIU softball stadium but fell to the Panthers 5-2. The loss moves the Bulldogs to 24-18 (10-7 CUSA).
The Bulldogs had three players finish with multiple hits as Reagan Marchant led the way, finishing with two hits and two RBI. She hit a solo home run and double that drove in a run. Alexis Gilio finished with three hits, including a double and two singles. Allie Furr finished with two singles in the loss. Addison Snyder and Elena Heng finished with one hit each.
LA Tech finished with nine hits to FIU’s six.
Laney Johnson made the start in the circle and tossed 3.0 scoreless innings before going on to allow five runs (four earned). She allowed five hits and walked four along with one strikeout.
Allie Floyd pitched one inning in relief and gave up one hit, one walk, and struck out one.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first as Marchant blasted a two-out solo shot to center field. Johnson worked a 1-2-3- bottom of the first after inducing two groundouts and a flyout.
LA Tech placed two runners in scoring position in the top of the second as Gilio and Snyder recorded back-to-back one out singles. Alannah Rogers drew a walk to load the bases, but the Bulldogs were doubled up on a line drive and base running mishap to leave two runners stranded.
After a scoreless third inning, FIU tied the game at one apiece on a solo home run to center field.
The Bulldogs answered back in the top of the fifth as Marchant doubled through the right side to score Furr, making it 2-1 LA Tech. Furr reached on a fielder’s choice and replaced Heng at first who led off the inning with a walk.
The Panthers took the lead for good in the bottom of the fifth as they added three runs on two hits and one error. FIU’s first batter of the inning reached on an error, followed by a single to put two aboard. A walk would load the bases, and a second walk would advance a runner home to make it 2-2. FIU followed with a single up the middle to plate two more runs to give the Panthers a 4-2 lead.
FIU added one more run in the bottom of the sixth as they used two singles to make it 5-2, which proved to be the final score.
NOTABLES
The Bulldogs move to 9-15 all-time against FIU after the loss.
Laney Johnson made her 12th start of the season in the circle and moved to 4-3 after taking the loss.
Reagan Marchant hit her 12th home run of the season.
Alexis Gilio recorded her 11th multi-hit game of the season after finishing with three hits in the loss.
Alexis Gilio became the fourth Bulldog to eclipse 40+ hit this season.
Reagan Marchant recorded her eighth multi-hit game of the season.
Reagan Marchant recorded her 10th multi-hit game of the season.
Allie Furr recorded her sixth multi-hit game of the season.
NEXT UP
The Bulldogs and Panthers will close out this three-game Conference USA set with the series finale tomorrow afternoon at noon.