Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
The Louisiana Tech Softball team travels to the Purple and Gold Challenge in Baton Rouge this weekend, where the Bulldogs will face Illinois, San Diego State, McNeese and tournament host LSU.
Action starts today with a single game against Illinois at 11 a.m. Tech will play a pair of games Saturday against Illinois (9:30 a.m.) and San Diego State (2:30 p.m.). The Bulldogs will then close action Sunday against McNeese (12:30 p.m.) and LSU (5:30 p.m.).
Louisiana Tech is 9-2 this season. The Bulldogs’ midweek matchup at Central Arkansas on Wednesday night was postponed due to field issues.
Through 11 games this season, the Bulldogs have outscored opponents 79-31, totaling 102 hits, 26 doubles, and six home runs. Louisiana Tech ranks second nationally in doubles per game (2.36), 16th in runs per game (7.18), and 18th in on-base percentage (.434).
Center fielder Alexis Gilio was scorching hot at the plate in the Bulldogs’ five games last week. The Colorado native batted .550 with 11 hits, two doubles, three RBI, four runs scored, and two stolen bases. She leads LA Tech with a .545 batting average, which ranks ninth nationally.
Second baseman Caroline Easom is right behind Gilio with a .516 batting average, 16 hits and seven RBI this season. During a 3-2 11-inning win over Missouri State last Saturday, Easom tied the game with an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh before walking it off in the 11th with another RBI single.
In the circle, the Bulldogs hold a 2.03 team ERA and .92 WHIP with 62 strikeouts and 56 hits allowed this season while only walking 14 batters. Tech ranks ninth nationally in strikeout-to-walk ratio (4.43) and 37th in ERA (2.03).
Illinois is 3-6 this season. The Fighting Illini are coming off a 2-2 performance at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic in Cathedral City, Calif. Illinois defeated Cal Poly (16-1) and Hawaii (6-2) while falling to No. 21 Cal (11-9) and No. 19 UCLA (10-2).
As a team, Illinois is batting .317 with 78 hits, 13 doubles, three home runs, 49 RBI, 26 walks, and 55 runs scored this season.
Illinois holds a 6.54-team ERA in the circle and has allowed 63 runs this season. Tori McQueen leads the Illini with a 4.97 ERA in 12.2 innings pitched. She is 1-1 this season. Lauren Wiles leads Illinois with two wins this season. She holds a 2-3 record with a 7.47 ERA in 19.2 innings pitched.
The Aztecs are 8-6 this season. San Diego State had an impressive 3-1 showing at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic (Feb. 23-25). The Aztecs defeated No. 8 Missouri (3-2), Nebraska (3-2, 8 inn.), and Bethune Cookman (9-0, 5 inn) while falling to No. 1 Oklahoma (7-0).
As a team, San Diego State is batting .242 with 84 hits, 10 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 44 RBI, 37 walks, and 53 runs scored this season.
In the circle, the Aztecs hold a 2.11 team ERA and have allowed 42 runs this season. Allie Light is their ace. The senior is 4-2 with 22 strikeouts and a 1.28 ERA in a team-leading 38.1 innings pitched.
The Cowgirls are 11-4 this season and coming off a 6-5 13-inning win at Houston on Wednesday night.
As a team, McNeese is batting .309 with 112 hits, 26 doubles, five triples, 16 home runs, 85 RBI, 61 walks and 94 runs scored this season.
In the circle, the Cowgirls hold a 2.38 team ERA and have allowed 38 runs this season. Ryan Schexnayder is 4-0 this season with a team-best 1.44 ERA in 24.1 innings pitched this season.
Tournament host LSU is 13-0, ranked No. 3 in the latest Softball America Poll. The Tigers went 5-0 in the Tiger Classic last week (Feb. 22-25). LSU earned a pair of victories over Boise State (3-2, 8-5) and Houston (10-3, 5-0) before defeating Austin Peay (11-0) to close out the weekend.
As a team, LSU is batting .374 with 127 hits, 26 doubles, five triples, 17 home runs, 111 RBI, 76 walks, and 116 runs scored this season.
In the circle, Raelin Chaffin and Sydney Berzon are 4-0. Chaffin holds a 2.28 ERA in 27.2 innings pitched, while Berzon has a 2.48 ERA in 31 innings pitched.
