By Stephen Featherston, Louisiana Tech Director of Strategic Communications; featured photo by Stephen Featherston
NATCHITOCHES — Louisiana Tech earned its second shutout win of the season as true Freshman Laney Johnson tossed a complete-game while limiting Northwestern State to five hits in the Bulldogs’ 3-0 win over NSU on Tuesday evening at Lady Demon Park.
The Bulldogs outhit the Demons 7-5 and scored all three of their runs in the sixth and seventh innings to win the game. LA Tech scored its first run of the game in the sixth on a Karli Sellers pinch-hit groundout, while plating two more in the 10th on a bases loaded hit by pitch, and a passed ball.
Alexis Gilio and Nicole Hammoude both collected two hits apiece, while Elena Heng, Reagan Marchant, and Alannah Rogers all had one base knock each. Marchant and Sellers led the Bulldogs with one RBI.
Gilio led the Bulldogs with three stolen bases while Rogers and Heng stole one bag apiece.
Johnson pitched all 7.0 innings to earn the shutout win as she held the Demons to no runs on five hits, while walking just one and fanning two. She did not allow any extra base hits in the win.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Scoreless through the first five frames, LA Tech jumped out to a late 1-0 lead in the top of the sixth as Sellers drove in Gilio on a pinch-hit groundout. Gilio reached base on an infield single to start the frame and advanced 60 feet to second on a stolen base and reached third after two walks.
Rogers was hit by a pitch to start the second inning and reached third after a stolen base and an infield single by Heng. With runners on second and third following a stolen base by Heng, Rogers scored on a wild pitch to put LA Tech up 2-0. Gilio and Raley drew back-to-back walks to load the bases for Marchant, who earned an RBI after being hit by a pitch.
QUOTABLES
Head coach Josh Taylor
On the 3-0 grind it out win…
“Our bats didn’t show up, I hate to say it like that. We had them on the ropes early, bases loaded, and we had a good bat right there from Reagan Marchant, but we have to be able to execute in situations where we have a runner on second and third with one out. We have to be able to move the ball, that’s how we got our first run. Sellers just put the ball in play and we were able to score a run.”
“Laney Johnson is the story tonight. She was fantastic all night and it’s her first seven inning complete game at LA Tech, so I am proud of the freshman. She did a great job.”
On finding different ways to win during the nine-game win streak…
“Yeah, it’s nice. Our offense just wasn’t here tonight. It’s a tough mid-week in between conference series and it’s a good thing we have a practice tomorrow before we head to Western Kentucky. Like I said, Laney was the answer and we did not have to use Allie Floydtonight, so there were just a lot of positives for us tonight.”
NOTABLES
The Bulldogs move to 64-52 against NSU all-time.
Laney Johnson made her ninth start of the season in the circle.
Laney Johnson moved to 2-1 on the season after tossing her first complete game shutout of the season. This was Johnson’s first 7.0 complete game after logging a 5.0 inning complete game against NSU in February.
LA Tech stole a season-high six bases.
Nicole Hammoude improved her reached base streak to 16 games.
Alexis Gilio now has an eight-game hit-streak.
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will be back in action this weekend as they travel to Bowling Green, Ky., for a three game Conference USA series against Western Kentucky. The series will begin on Friday night with first pitch set for 6:00 p.m.