Staff writer
On the two-year anniversary of the EF3 tornado that destroyed the previous complex, it was clear blue skies as the Lady Techsters took on the UTEP Miners in a Sunday doubleheader at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
Prior to the start, members of the 2019 LA Tech team threw out the first pitch. That squad went on to capture the program’s first ever C-USA regular season title in dramatic fashion.
Some of that game-filled drama could be found in game one as Madie Green blasted a three-run homer down the left field line to give the Lady Techsters a 6-4 victory.
It was the second comeback of the game. UTEP plated the first three runs of the game, but LA Tech tied things up in the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run by Zoe Hicks and an RBI apiece by Brooke Diaz Kylie Neel.
The Miners regained the edge in the top of the sixth, taking a 4-3 lead. After a walk and an added base runner thanks to an error by the visiting game, Green stepped up to the plate with one out.
Four days earlier, the senior became the first Lady Techster to send a ball over the wall at the new facility. She calmly sent another over the wall for what would be the game-winning hit as LA Tech took the 6-4 victory.
Both teams were spraying the ball over the field in game one to the tune of 20 combined hits. Game two was a pitcher’s duel, won by UTEP who got the split after a 1-0 shutout.
Each team could only muster two hits. For LA Tech, Bre Hernandez pitched a complete game with seven strikeouts. The senior did walk three batters and all three came in the top of the fifth. After hitting the first batter and later walking another to load the bases, her third walk forced in the lone run of the game.
LA Tech had its best chance to tie things up in the bottom of the same inning with runners on second and third and two outs, but Jordyn Manning grounded out to third to end the frame.
The teams will square for another doubleheader starting at 3 p.m. today
TRACK & FIELD: Program history was made on Saturday in Natchitoches at the Leon Johnson NSU Invitational as Tripp Marcus set the Louisiana Tech school record in the men’s javelin with a throw of 237-10.
The Ruston native placed first in the meet by more than 36 feet. The mark also ranks first in Conference USA in 2021 by more than 13 feet.
While Marcus was setting history with the team’s throwers, the jumpers and runners for LA Tech competed at Rice’s J. Fred Duckett Twilight in Houston where the Bulldogs and Lady Techsters combined for six top-five finishes.
Triple jumper Murphy Bavinga recorded a first-place mark in the men’s triple jump, recording a leap of 49-9 (personal best), while teammate Caleb Clark finished third with a mark of 48-0 3/4.