Tough Tuesday for Tech baseball, softball squads
It was a tough night on the diamond for the Louisiana Tech teams as both the Bulldog baseball and Lady Techster softball squads dropped games against in-state opponents on the road.
BASEBALL: The Louisiana Tech baseball team got a solid pitching performance from a foursome of arms, but the Bulldogs fell 2-0 to UL-Lafayette at Russo Park last night.
Just one night after surrendering 16 runs in a loss at LSU, the Bulldog pitching staff bounced back behind a solid start by Jarrett Whorff, who worked 5.1 innings while allowing just one unearned run on four hits and one walk with four strikeouts.
Whorff was relieved in the sixth inning as Nick Ellis, Cade Hodges and Landon Tomkins combined to work the final 2.2 innings allowing one run on three hits and one walk with a pair of strikeouts.
“I felt like we competed hard, but Spencer Arrighetti was just overpowering tonight,” said Bulldog head coach Lane Burroughs. “There are a lot of positives to take from this, and I l thought Whorff obviously was outstanding. He gave us a great start, and Nick Ellis made his first appearance and faced two lefties and got them both out. Now we know what he can do. You have to prove it at this level, and he’s been doing that for us.”
Arrighetti allowed just one hit and one walk while striking out nine over 6.1 innings of action on the bump for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
The Bulldogs managed few scoring opportunities with the best coming in the ninth inning. Parker Bates and Steele Netterville registered back-to-back one-out singles to put the tying runs on base, but Brandon Talley retired the next two batters to close the game.
“Arrighetti was good, and sometimes you’ve got to tip your hat to the opponent,” said Burroughs. “He controlled the game.”
Tech (1-2) will open the home portion of its schedule Friday in the first of a three-game series against Southern at the newly-reconstructed J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
Louisiana Tech Athletic officials announced Monday that the Bulldogs’ series against Southern will still be played in Ruston, but fans will not be allowed.
The decision comes on the heels of the week-long winter storm that forced construction to stop, thus delaying completion of the game-day amenities and other areas of the stadium that are needed to safely host fans for now.
Only teams, officials and essential game-day working personnel will be allowed into the stadium this weekend.
SOFTBALL: Playing for the first time in 11 days and only the third time all season, the Lady Techsters couldn’t make an early lead last and fell 8-5 to ULM at Geo-Surfaces Field in Monroe.
Tech (1-2) plated three runs in the top of the first inning thanks to three walks, a hit by pitch, a passed ball and an infield single as the Lady Techsters capitalized against ULM starter Murphy Williams. Madie Green drew a bases loaded walk and Tristin Court drove in a run with an infield single as Tech grabbed the early advantage.
However, junior Hannah Koenig struggled in the home half of the first, allowing five runs on three hits and three walks before giving way to freshman Lauren Menzina. The Cedar Creek product made her collegiate debut for Tech, allowing just one run on five hits and four walks over 3.0 innings of action in the circle.
After ULM extended its lead to 6-3 in the bottom of the fourth, Tech responded with a pair of runs in the top of the fifth inning. Caroline Easom drove home Bailey Wright with an RBI single up the middle and after Zoe Hicks doubled to put runners on second and third, Easom scored on a passed ball to close the gap to 6-5.
ULM plated two more runs in the bottom of the fifth and Warhawks reliever Adrianna Chavarria closed the game.
Tech will have eight days between games, with a trip to Southeastern Louisiana next Wednesday next up. The much awaited home opener is next weekend.
Photo: by Darrell James