Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
The Louisiana Tech Softball team opens Conference USA play with a three-game series against Sam Houston at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field starting tonight at 6 p.m.
The two teams will play Saturday at 5 p.m. and Sunday at 1 p.m.
All three games can be seen on ESPN+.
Louisiana Tech is 13-4 this season and coming off an impressive 3-1 win at McNeese. After a strong 4-2 showing over the past week the Bulldogs shot up to No. 30 in the latest NCAA RPI rankings on March 6.
Center fielder Alexis Gilio has been scorching hot at the plate this season. Gilio leads LA Tech with a .472 batting average, 25 hits and six stolen bases. Gilio carries a four-game hitting streak into the series.
Second baseman Caroline Easom is batting .458 with 22 hits, four doubles, 10 RBI, and five runs scored. She has only struck out twice in 51 at-bats.
Through 17 games this season, the Bulldogs have outscored opponents 98-39, totaling 146 hits, 32 doubles, and seven home runs.
In the circle, the Bulldogs hold a 1.69 team ERA and .98 WHIP with 82 strikeouts and 94 hits allowed this season while only walking 20 batters.
Allie Floyd leads LA Tech in innings pitched (49.2) and strikeouts (35) this season while owning a 0.85 ERA. She has a 5-1 record and four saves this season. Floyd continued her dominance in the circle by allowing two earned runs in 17.2 innings pitched at the Purple and Gold Challenge last weekend. Floyd has only walked two batters this season.
Brook Melnychuk has been impressive as well. The redshirt junior holds a 1.55 ERA in 40.2 innings pitched. Opposing hitters are batting .177 against her. She is 5-3 this season with one save. Lauren Menzina has also been stellar, owning a 1.27 ERA and a 1-0 record in 11 innings of action.
The Bearkats are 9-10 this season, coming off a 8-0 five-inning run-rule loss to No. 10 Baylor in Huntsville. Center fielder Ellie Grill singled and stole a base in the defeat.
As a team, Sam Houston is batting .251 with 122 hits, 24 doubles, six triples, six home runs, 63 RBI, 48 walks and 70 runs scored this season.
In the circle, Sam Houston holds a 5.78 team ERA in 123 innings pitched. Senior Daryn Grams has a team-best 3.47 ERA and 1.32 WHIP while striking out 20 in 36.1 innings of work. Grams is 2-2 this year. Freshman Amy Abke is 3-2 with a 5.46 ERA and 20 strikeouts in 31.1 innings pitched.
The Bulldogs and Bearkats will be meeting for the 30th, 31st and 32nd times this weekend. LA Tech leads the all-time series 17-12. The Bulldogs won the last matchup 5-0 on Feb. 20, 2022 at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
