Staff Reports
For the second straight game, Louisiana Tech shortstop Nicole Hammoude hit a tape-measure home run — this time a first inning grand slam — to lift the Bulldogs to an 8-0 run-rule victory over Grambling State Tuesday night at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
Hammoude’s bases-loaded, two-out, full-count swing sent the offering by GSU starter Sherrell Matthews deep over the left centerfield wall for a 4-0 lead.
Tech would add another run in the first, one in the second and two in the fourth to record its first run-rule win of the year.
Freshman Mattison Buster and junior Alyssa Martin combined for a one-hit shutout, allowing just a first inning single as the only base runner of the game for the Tigers. Buster worked 2.0 scoreless frames in the start while Martin retired all nine batters she faced in order over the final 3.0 innings of action.
“We took care of business,” said Tech head coach Josh Taylor. “Hammoude with the grand slam in the first inning created some separation which allowed us to do a lot of different things. We got to see Mattison Buster start the game and had a good outing. Alyssa Martin did a really good job of keeping them off-balanced and putting zeros on the board.
“We were efficient with our pitch count and at-bats. We took our walks when we needed them to create the big inning. I was happy with tonight. We took care of business and we have a long road trip in front of us with Liberty this weekend and we are on to that now,”
Tech (23-6) improved to 23-0 all-time against GSU, including 13 shutout victories.
Following Hammoude’s grand slam in the first, Kylie Neel doubled and then scored on Ella Rose Wright’s RBI single to left centerfield.
The Bulldogs added a run in the second on an RBI ground out by Alexis Gilio scoring Alannah Rogers, who had doubled to lead off the frame.
Sophomore Paris Endris plated the finally two runs on a 2-run single to centerfield in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Tech travels to face Liberty in a three-game Conference USA series starting Thursday in Lynchburg, Virginia.
