Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
SOFTBALL
Since being swept in its Conference USA opening series at Florida Atlantic in early-March, the Louisiana Tech Lady Techsters have been one of the best teams – if not the best – in the league.
Now winners of 11 of their last 13 games, the Lady Techsters completed a three-game sweep of UAB this weekend at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
Tech (32-17, 12-6) – winners of 12 of its last 15 league games – now sits in a tie for third place in the 12-team Conference USA standings, just one game behind North Texas and WKU.
UAB entered the weekend series in Ruston in second place, but the Lady Techsters put a dent in the Blazers league title hopes, winning 9-1 on Friday, 4-3 on Saturday and 3-2 on Sunday. Tech is now 16-4 at home, including winning 16 of its last 17 and outscoring its opponents 93-37 during that 17-game stretch.
Audrey Pickett (21-5) picked up two more wins in the circle this weekend and ranks in the top 10 nationally in wins while former Cedar Creek product Lauren Menzina (5-6) tossed a complete-game in Saturday’s 4-3 victory.
The Lady Techsters will travel to Murfressboro this weekend for a three-game series against Middle Tennessee.
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BASEBALL
Louisiana Tech dropped two out of three games at home this weekend against Middle Tennessee, falling 6-3 in 12 innings in Sunday’s rubber match.
The Bulldogs (28-13, 12-6 C-USA) are now in a two-way tie with UTSA for second place in the Conference USA standings, trailing Southern Miss by four games.
Tech dropped the opener on Friday night 7-3 before responding with a 4-2 victory on Saturday behind a strong pitching performance from Ryan Jennings.
In Sunday’s finale, Tech led 3-1 going into the eighth inning before two free passes (catcher’s interference and walk) put the tying runs on base and a wild pitch and single tied the game at 3-3.
Tech had a couple of opportunities to win the game in the late innings, but the Bulldogs couldn’t come up with the big hit they needed.
“We didn’t deserve to win the game,” said Burroughs. “We had multiple opportunities with runners in scoring position. Credit their lefty, punched two of our guys out when we needed a hit to win the game. At the end of the day, we didn’t get it done and they did.”
The Bulldogs will travel to face Little Rock Wednesday before heading to Norfolk for a three-game series against Old Dominion this weekend.
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MEN’S GOLF
Louisiana Tech begins its quest at the Conference USA Championships Monday when the Bulldogs join 12 other teams at the Texarkana Country Club.
The teams play one round of 18 each day, Monday through Wednesday, with match play involving the top four teams on Thursday, April 28. The course is a par 72 with total yardage of 6,959. Live scoring is provided by golfstat.com.
Competing for the Bulldogs are Mac and Sam Murphy, James Swash, Hunter Battles and Lake Juban while Grant Smith is also available to Head Coach Matt Terry as a sub during the course of the four-day event.
“Our guys are excited to get started tomorrow,” said Terry. “The team is in the right frame of mind to go compete at a high level for the next four days. We have six guys here who can all get the job done.”
Sam Murphy leads LA Tech with a 71.31 scoring average and five Top 10 finishes this year while brother Sam ranks second with a 73.27 scoring average and two top 10 finishes.
Tee times begin at 8 a.m. CT on the first and 10th holes. Tech’s day will begin at 8 a.m. teeing off on Hole No. 10 and paired up with Rice and UTEP.
LA Tech is one of 13 teams competing in the championship with seven teams ranked in the GolfStat Top 100. The other programs are (No. 28) Charlotte, (No. 54) UAB, (No. 71) Middle Tennessee, (No. 77) Florida Atlantic, (No. 80) UTSA, (No. 82) North Texas, (No. 83) Southern Miss, Marshall, UTEP, Rice, Old Dominion and WKU.
LA Tech owns one Conference USA golf title coming in 2016.
