By Stephen Featherston, Louisiana Tech Director of Strategic Communications; featured photo by Stephen Featherston
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Louisiana Tech softball bounced back in a big way on Friday night, defeating UAPB 10-1 in six innings after falling to Lamar 5-3 in game one of the Southern Miss Black and Gold Challenge earlier in the afternoon.
The split moves the Bulldogs to 8-8 on the season.
GAME ONE
The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 3-1 lead in the bottom of the first inning but would quickly see their fortunes fall. Lamar drew first flood, scoring one run in the top of the first inning on a wild pitch. LA Tech answered with three runs, which would be the only Bulldogs runs of the game.
After a leadoff groundout to start the half inning, Alexis Gilio drew a walk and advanced to second on a Claire Raley single up the middle. Redshirt sophomore Reagan Marchant cleared the bases with a triple to left center and would come around to score on an Addison Snyder double to left field, making it 3-1 Tech.
Lamar used a grand slam in the fourth inning to take a 5-3 lead. The Cardinals got three runners aboard with three singles, followed by the grand slam from Sicily Windham.
Allie Floyd took the loss in the circle after allowing five earned runs. The junior right-hander tossed 7.0 innings while allowing five runs on six hits with five strikeouts.
Marchant and Raley led the Bulldogs with two hits apiece, while Marchant led the team with two RBI. Snyder, Nicole Hammoude and Allie Furr also recorded base hits in the loss.
GAME TWO
The Bulldogs registered double-digit runs for the second time this season after defeating UAPB 10-1 in the night cap.
LA Tech took an early 4-0 lead in the top of the second inning. Karolyn Glover’s big night was just getting started as she drew a walk to start the frame. A groundout moved Glover 60 feet to second, followed by another 60 feet on a wild pitch. Furr drew a walk to put two aboard for Heng, who singled and drove in Glover, making it 1-0. Gilio followed with a single to right field that scored Furr and placed Heng on second. Raley doubled to left field to score both Gilio and Heng, giving the Bulldogs an early 4-0 lead.
UAPB plated its lone run of the night in the bottom of the inning, using a double, a single and a groundout to score.
After a quiet third and fourth inning, the Bulldogs posted back-to-back three run innings in the fifth and sixth to reach 10 runs. Hammoude got the scoring started in the fifth with a solo shot to start the top half. Paris Endris followed with a single, and advanced to third on a Glover Single. Jina Baffuto recorded her first RBI of the season on a sac fly to center that scored Endris, making it 6-1 LA Tech. A groundout from Furr put Glover on third base, who was knocked in by a Heng single to left to make it 7-1 Bulldogs.
Glover’s big night continued in the sixth inning, as the sophomore catcher hit a three-run home run to center field to make it 10-1. Glover plated Hammoude, who reached on a fielder’s choice, along with Endris who drew a walk.
Heng and Glover led the Bulldogs with three hits each, while Glover led the squad with three RBI. Heng finished with two runs batted in, along with Raley who also plated two runs in the win. Glover also led the team with three runs, while Hammoude and Endris both crossed home plate twice.
Alyssa Martin earned the win in the circle after tossing 3.0 innings of relief work. Martin allowed just two hits and no runs in her relief outing. Laney Johnson got the start and pithed 3.0 innings, while allowing one run on six hits with three strikeouts.
NOTABLES
The Bulldogs move to 7-1 all-time against Lamar with the loss.
Allie Floyd made her 8th start of the season in the circle in game one.
Reagan Marchant recorded her first career triple against Lamar.
Reagan Marchant registered her fourth multi-hit game of the and her fifth multi-RBI game of the season against Lamar.
Addison Snyder hit her team leading fourth double of the season against Lamar.
Allie Furr made her first start of the season in right field against Lamar.
The Bulldogs move to 6-0 all-time against UAPB.
Laney Johnson made her third start of the season in the circle against UAPB.
Alyssa Martin picked up her first win of the season over UAPB.
Claire Raley registered her fifth multi-RBI game of the season versus UAPB.
Elena Heng recorded her team leading sixth multi-hit game of the season, and her second three hit game against UAPB.
Jina Baffuto recorded her first RBI of the season in the win over UAPB.
Karolyn Glover registered her second home run of the season with a three-run blast against UAPB.
Karolyn Glover registered her first career three-hit performance.
NEXT UP
The Bulldogs return to the diamond Saturday with two more games in the Black and Gold Challenge. LA Tech will square off against host team Southern Miss at 11:30 a.m., followed by a second matchup against UAPB at 7:00 p.m. in the night cap. The 11:30 a.m. game against USM will be streamed on ESPN+.