Louisiana Tech saw its perfect start to the 2024 season come to an end Wednesday night when the Bulldogs fell 6-4 to Xavier in the 13th game of the year.
Tech (12-0) struggled offensively through the first seven innings while faltering on the mound for one of the very few times this season.
Eight Bulldog arms combined to record 10 strikeouts, but six walks and three home runs were too much to overcome in the loss to the Musketeers (7-6).
Jacob Havern and Nate Crider combined to toss the first 5.0 innings, allowing just one run on three hits and three walks with seven strikeouts.
However, the Tech offense which has been unstoppable for most of the year never got rolling until late. The Bulldogs first hit was an infield single by Kasten Furr in the fifth inning. Tech managed just two singles through seven innings of action.
Xavier added one run in the sixth, two in the seventh and two more in the eighth to extend its lead to 6-0 before Tech responded.
The Bulldogs got on the board with a two-run home run by Dalton Davis in the eighth and then added RBI singles by Cole McConnell and Davis in the ninth. Tech brought the go-ahead run to the plate with two outs in the ninth, but a ground out ended the game.
Tech will host Southern Miss in a three-game series this weekend, starting with a 6 p.m. first pitch Friday night.
HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Louisiana Tech used a dominant first quarter to cruise to a 71-57 win over Sam Houston on Wednesday night in the Bernard G. Johnson Coliseum. The Lady Techsters picked up their fourth consecutive victory and have won five of the previous six.
Sam Houston (7-20, 2-13) came into the contest as one of the top teams in the country at getting to the foul line, offensive boards, and forcing turnovers. Louisiana Tech (13-17, 7-8) held the Bearkats to half their season averages in every category.
The Lady Techsters’ offense started slow, but their defense held Sam Houston to just 2-of-15 shootings in the first quarter. After missing their first two shots, the Techsters quickly found ways to put points on the board and finished 37 percent in the opening stanza. Seven different Lady Techsters scored in the opening period, giving Tech a 22-4 lead after one.
Every time it looked like Sam Houston would start to make a run in the second, LA Tech would have an answer.
Tech’s lead grew to 22 halfway through the fourth before the Bearkats cut it down to the final margin with majority of the starters on the bench.
Robyn Lee led four Lady Techsters in double figures with 14 points and eight rebounds. Anna Larr Roberson and Mackenzie Wurm scored 12 apiece for 24 of Tech’s 42 points in the paint. Silvia Nativi added 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting while adding seven assists and five rebounds.
Shanti Henry was the Bearkats leading scorer with 15 points, while Kaylee Jefferson added 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists.
Louisiana Tech will travel to Murfreesboro, Tenn., on Saturday for the final regular-season game against Middle Tennessee. Tipoff is 9:30 a.m. CT on ESPN+ and will be broadcast on 97.7 FM and streamed on the LA Tech Sports app.
After helping Louisiana Tech claim a pair of conference road wins, Alexia Romero was named Conference USA Women’s Tennis Athlete of the Week in an announcement made by the league office on Wednesday.
Romero went a perfect 4-0 for LA Tech as the Bulldogs swept league matches at New Mexico State and UTEP.
The senior provided the clinching point in both matches, coming back to win 2-6, 6-3, 6-2 at the No. 6 position in singles to help defeat the Aggies, 4-3. She turned around the very next day and put a cap on the 4-0 shutout victory over the Miners, winning 6-3, 6-3. She also teamed up with Olga Bienzobas to win by a score of 7-5 in both matches at the No. 1 doubles position.
The fifth-year senior is currently 11-3 in dual singles and 8-7 in dual doubles this spring.
This is the first weekly award for the Neuquen, Argentina native. She becomes the seventh Bulldog in program history to receive CUSA Athlete of the Week and the third this season, joining teammates Olga Bienzobas and Ana Rodrigues.
Tony Dewayne Thrash, age 75, of Minden, Louisiana was born March 8, 1948 in Atmore, Alabama to Archibald Dewitt Thrash and Kate Beatrice Stephens Thrash. He went to join our Lord and Savior, Saturday, March 2, 2024, after a few years of declining health.
Tony never met a stranger and remembered everyone he met. His smile and infectious laugh will be missed by all. Tony is preceded in death by his parents.
Tony is survived by his nieces: Pina Thrash Caldwell and Delene Thrash Caldwell; and nephews: Steve Thrash and Dana Thrash.
On behalf of the family, we would like to thank the medical staff of Minden Medical Center who cared for our uncle on his last days on this Earth as well as the friends who took time to visit and leave notes. They meant so very much to us.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.
Donald “Don” Eugene Lee October 31, 1931 – March 2, 2024 Service: Forest Lawn Cemetery ~ Ruston, Friday, March 8, 2024, 10:00 am
Kenneth R. Purcell January 6, 1957 – August 30, 2023 Graveside Service: Saturday, March 9, 2024, 10:00 AM, Forest Lawn Cemetery, 2500 West California Ave, Ruston
Tony Thrash March 8, 1948 – March 2, 2024 Private memorial service
Mattie Lee Williams Thursday 11/18/1948 — Friday 03/01/2024 Visitation: Thursday 03/07/2024 3:00pm to 6:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Wake: Thursday 03/07/2024 6:00pm to 7:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Friday 03/08/2024 2:00pm, Springhill Baptist Church, 727 Dicks Store Road, Grambling Interment: Friday 03/08/2024 Following Service, Springhill Church Cemetery, Dicks Store Road, Grambling/Simsboro
Victoria Hendricks Thursday 11/27/1967 — Saturday 03/02/2024 Visitation: Friday 03/08/2024 3:00pm to 5:00pm at King’s Funeral Home Celebration of Life: Saturday 03/09/2024 11:00am, St. Joseph’s Missionary Baptist Church, 206 New Natchitoches Road, West Monroe Interment: Saturday 03/09/2024 Following Service, Hasley Cemetery. 1500 Arkansas Road, West Monroe
Lincoln Parish Schools employees will receive significantly larger “14th Checks” this year after approval by the Lincoln Parish School Board at the March LPSB meeting Tuesday night at the Central Schools Office.
Supplemental checks for faculty employees will be $7,452, a $1,340 increase over last year’s amount while support staff workers will receive a $3,726 check, up $670 from last year’s “14th Checks.”
That funding, derived from four different half-cent sales taxes as well as a portion of one property tax, are slated to be distributed on May 24.
The School Board also gave permission for Ruston High School band director and Federal Programs Director Dr. Sheila Nugent to solicit bids for the RHS Band and also approved closed spec and sole source procurement for new turf for T.L. James Field at L.J. “Hoss” Garrett Stadium.
Moss said the band instruments needed will be for the part of the band that performs at athletic events.
“That’s mainly brass and percussion instruments,” Moss said.
The funding will come from the last round of COVID-19 payments from the government that was targeted for that purpose.
In other business, the LPSB adopted a resolution designating April 22-26 as Support Personal Week and approved a motion for the annual distribution of Instructional Monies from the 1979 Sales Tax Collections for 2024-25.
The $69,550.25 will be divvied up based on enrollments at each school and will go toward supplies for art, physical education, libraries, music, periodicals and science.
An attempt was made last year for new turf Garrett Stadium but those bids were rejected, putting the matter to a temporary rest. Officials expect new turf for the stadium to cost in the neighborhood of $850,000.
During her report, Lincoln Parish Schools Chief Financial Officer Juanita Duke said that a recent audit showed three findings — the first because the audit report was late (state regulations required that report to be submitted by Dec. 31, 2023); filing of late meal reimbursement claims, a matter she said had already been resolved; payments to unvalidated food vendor payments from federal funds, a finding she said has also been already resolved.
A Ruston man has been charged with eighteen counts of carnal knowledge of a juvenile.
Brye Stephen Edwards was arrested Friday by the Lincoln Parish Sheriff’s Office. Bail was set at $90,000.
LPSO spokesman Lt. Matt Henderson said the office received a report that Edwards was allegedly involved in a relationship with a female juvenile. An investigation of that relationship led to the felony charges.
According to Louisiana law, felony carnal knowledge occurs when the victim is 13 to 16 years old, and the offender is at least four years older than the victim and the two engage in consensual sex. The statute notes that lack of knowledge of the juvenile’s age shall not be a defense.
Edwards is 23, according to Lincoln Parish Detention Center records.
Investigation into the incident is ongoing.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Although the new intersection at Cedar Creek and Kentucky Avenue opened back in September and was completed in November, Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker and other local dignitaries conducted the ribbon cutting ceremony Tuesday morning in recognition of the completion of the project.
Regional Construction out of Natchitoches was the contractor on the project, which runs approximately 300 feet to the east of the old intersection. Although the project cost $1.75 million, Walker said it was actually more financially feasible compared to alternatives.
“The great thing about it this is another project funded by Moving Ruston Forward tax,” said Walker. “People voted on it about eight years ago and it has funded so many projects over that time. It is a great connector to Cedar Creek Drive. We took out the portion of the road where there was a wooden bridge that was going to have to be rebuilt.
“We did this because we now have a perpendicular entrance from Kentucky. This is now much safer. There is some cost savings as well. It saves us about a quarter of a million dollars from what we did compared to replacing an old wooden bridge. From a safety standpoint, from a cost standpoint, it’s just a better look.”
City of Ruston Public Works Utility Manager Andrew Halbrook said the new intersection will also help when it comes to future expansion.
“Not only was this done to make the previously very unsafe and poorly designed intersection at Cedar Creek, Goodwin Road and Kentucky Avenue more safe from a visibility standpoint, but it will help with future expansion on East Kentucky,” said Halbrook. “The plan is to break ground on first portion of the three lane from Goodwin to Highway 33 at the end of this year. Having that perpendicular intersection will make traffic flow safer for those traveling east and west on Kentucky Avenue as well as Cedar Creek Drive and Frazier Road.”
Walker cited the work done by Halbrook and a few other city workers on the project.
“I want to thank Kevin McGivney, who is in charge of our streets in the city, John Freeman, who is over public works, and Andrew Halbrook, who helps with all the grant writing within the city,” said Walker. “Those three people were very important pieces to this project.”
LPSB members during the February 7 meeting where they voted 11-0 to send the bond proposals to an April vote.
By T. Scott Boatright
During his report at Tuesday night’s Lincoln Parish School Board meeting, Superintendent Ricky Durrett announced the dates of the three information meetings for the public regarding a bond proposal for $17.5 million to upgrade athletic facilities and security measures at Ruston High School and Ruston Junior High.
Those meetings are scheduled for 6 p.m. March 12 at I.A. Middle School and 6 p.m. April 2 at Ruston High School. An April 9 meeting at a site to be determined will be announced at a later date.
“It’s really about keeping a promise we made to the voters and to the interested parties about bringing the information out about what the bond millage is and what the renewal does for the projects,” said LPSB President Gregg Phillips. “We want to give the public an opportunity to hear the specifics of the plan and the benefits that it will have to our community and to our students. It’s important to remember these projects are to benefit the students.”
Another such meeting is set for 5:30 p.m. Thursday at Choudrant School for a separate bond proposal there.
Those proposals will be voted on during a public election on April 27.
The Ruston District 1 proposal for capital improvement will include:
Ruston Junior High School ($1,820,000 total) – Security Upgrades (Fencing & Gates): $1.3 million – Additional Parking: $320,000 – Body Scan Machines: $200,00
Ruston High School ($14,780,000 total) – New Roof: $1 million – Entrance Upgrades for Security: $950,000 – Body Scan Machines: $300,000 – Parking Lot by Gym: $330,000 – Covered Pavilion: $5 million – Softball Field Upgrades: $3.5 million – Boys & Girls Basketball Renovations: $1.5 million – Baseball Upgrades: $2.2 million
I have had numerous people ask me this week where tomorrow night’s Conference USA showdown ranks in terms of important home games over the past 10 or 20 years.
Hard to say exactly but let’s just say its right up there towards the very top.
Head coach Talvin Hester and the Dunkin’ Dawgs will host Sam Houston State Thursday night at 8 p.m. at the Thomas Assembly Center with the Conference USA men’s basketball regular season title on the line.
As the radio play by play voice of the Dogs, I — along with my radio partner Jack Thigpen — will have two of the best seats in the house. And I’m pumped about it.
I have been lucky enough to call all 29 games this year and man have I seen some high-level college basketball for the vast majority of the season.
There were a number of road hiccups in November and December when these Bulldogs were learning what it takes to win on the road. Based on a 6-2 away game mark in CUSA contests, I’d say they learned plenty from tough, last minutes losses at Colorado State, New Mexico, Grand Canyon, St. Louis and Seattle.
Now the road portion of the regular season is over. And with an opportunity to win the first regular season league title since 2014-2015, these Bulldogs get a chance to play in the friendly confines of their home arena.
Friendly for the Bulldogs that is. Tomorrow night we need a raucous crowd of Bulldog boosters to make life a living hell for the Bearkats of Sam Houston.
This will be the second meeting of the year. The Bearkats got the best of the Bulldogs back on January 6 in the CUSA opener for both teams. 81-77 was the final score. Good guys came in second that night.
So it’s time for a little payback and time to secure no worse than a share of the league regular season title. A win by Hester and Co. tomorrow night would do just that. Two wins in their final two home games (Tech hosts Middle Tennessee Saturday at 2 p.m. for Senior Day) would give the Bulldogs the outright league title.
This group has been fun to watch.
With the top two defensive players in the league (in my opinion of course) in Daniel Batcho and Isaiah Crawford, this team has won with defense. With three nightly double digit scorers (join the club Tahlik Chavez) plus the CUSA leader in assists in Sean Newman and a deep bench that has seen three other Bulldogs (Jordan Crawford, Dravon Mangum and Devin Ree) score at least 20 points at least once this year, this team has won with offense. This team has the makeup of a championship caliber group.
Tomorrow night they have a chance to prove it. It won’t be easy.
After a tough non-conference slate that saw the Bearkats lose more than they won (7-8), Sam Houston found their rhythm once league play began. And it started with that 81-77 win over Tech.
Now almost two full months later, Tech will try to return the favor.
And the Bulldogs need your help. School is out for quarter break, thus plenty of students who would normally attend this game may not be there. The diehards will be in attendance. What we need are the casual fans to show up in force. Even if you haven’t been to a Bulldog game this year, here is your chance. I promise you won’t be disappointed.
These Dogs are fun to watch. These Dogs are easy to cheer for. These Dogs have a chance to cut down the proverbial nets this year. And if they continue to play at a high level, these Dogs have a chance to do something that hasn’t been done in more than three decades — win their way into the NCAA Tournament.
But first things first. These Dogs need our communities support tomorrow night.
So take a nap, and head to the TAC for the 8 p.m. tipoff between the Bulldogs and the Bearkats.
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Pre-sale tickets are on sale now for $5 which guarantees the best available seat(s). Those can be purchased at LATechSports.com/PackTheTAC or by calling the LA Tech Ticket Office at (318) 257-3631.
You can also be one of the first 1,000 fans at the TAC, receiving a free ticket courtesy of Origin Bank (the $5 tickets will still be available if the 1,000 free tickets are gone).
Ruston Police arrested a local man after he allegedly struck a dog repeatedly in what appeared to be a domestic incident.
Martin Phillips, 21, of Ruston, was arrested after officers responded to a disturbance in progress at a Kirkland Street residence Thursday. Officers found Phillips holding a piece of plywood and screaming at a dog at reportedly had bitten him.
Phillips’s hand was bleeding and he told officers his relative, who owns the dog, had told the canine to bite him.
The complainant who had called police said he was dating the relative and that Phillips had gotten angry at his relative because she refused to give him her phone. During the encounter, the dog got between Phillips and his relative and bit him.
Phillips reportedly then struck the dog with a bottle and hit the animal repeatedly with the plywood.
The relative said she held a protective order against Phillips which was confirmed by the police department.
Phillips was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for cruelty to animals and violation of a protective order.
Bail was set at $10,000.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Has it been more than 30 years since we’ve been calling you Sweeter?, when your grandboy toddlers said “Sweet Lou” and that morphed into “Sweeter”? Time flies, but the name is timeless. And fits.
So Happy Birthday, Sweeter! Sorry I missed being there. Somehow, after more than 40 years, I have wound up back on the Louisiana Tech Baseball bus, which is why I was calling you from Lake Charles and Sugar Land, Texas this week.
Bad news: I missed “Happy Birthday To You” and the cake and you wearing your goofy Happy Birthday hat the gang bought you.
Good news, we got to talk on the phone and the Bulldogs went 4-0 on the trip, swept the Battle at the Ballpark at Constellation Field in Sugar Land, and have started their season 11-0.
So far, so good.
Since you asked, yes momma, the baseball bus is the same, even after all this time:
Somebody plays the music too loud or not loud enough or the wrong music;
Somebody needs to go to the bathroom and has to run through a gauntlet of shins in the aisle to get back there;
Somebody says too many dirty words too loud;
Somebody forgot something;
Laughs and food and inside jokes.
It’s a beautiful thing. And it’s one of those things that never changes.
But thank goodness, some things do. Like, for instance:
Last year’s Tech team was more up and down than a gopher on speed. Every game was like going to meet your tough-to-read girlfriend: you didn’t know whether to bring a tank top or a windbreaker or a heavy jacket.
Couldn’t throw a strike. Guys hurt. One missed the whole season. Missed a couple of seniors who’d graduated, and no one picked up the Accountability Stick. Most everyone had a sub-par spring …
Just one of those sports deals where few things went right and every game was like going 12 rounds with Tyson. That the program was coming off back-to-back NCAA Regionals made it more trying.
A Pepto-Bismol season.
But maybe Tech’s time in the barrel is up. The Diamond Dogs have come into 2024, as I heard an old cowpoke say one time, “a-rippin’ and a-roarin’, a-rompin’ and a-stompin’ …”
Hard to win 11 in a row in anything in college, but especially in baseball, where the tiniest thing — passed ball, throwing to the wrong base, missed cutoff — can blow it all up.
First trip of the season, the Dogs left the Love Shack Wednesday at 11, teed it up against McNeese at 6 and, on a cold, blustery, next-to-last evening of February, beat the Cowboys 13-4. Were right on every pitch. Maybe three swings and misses.
Slept fast and got on the bus at 8 and were practicing in Sugar Land at noon. Then a 20-minute bus ride to Houston to lift weights at Rice, then finally checking into the hotel back in Sugar Land, team supper, sleep, and in the next three days, beat Army 4-0, Creighton 12-0, and Air Force 8-5. Bulldogs had been in town 72 hours before they allowed a run.
Outscored opponents 37-9.
Is that good? I think that’s good.
It’s early but … cautious optimism. Double cautious. Super-duper cautious. Still healing up from last year’s ulcer(s).
I’ll keep you up to speed Sweeter. You’ll enjoy a game when the weather’s warmer. The crowds for this weekend’s three games against Southern Miss — Friday at 6, Saturday at 2, Sunday at 1 — should get the Love Shack heated up.
See you at the park or at the kitchen table soon. Love you. The boys say hey, and smoke ’em high and tight.
A man tried to avoid arrest by giving a Lincoln Parish deputy sheriff a fake name Wednesday.
The strategy did not work.
Justin Oliver Watts, 36, of Bernice, was a front seat passenger of a vehicle that was stopped about 3:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon. Watts gave the name Devonte Watts and a 1994 birthday. During questioning, Watts gave two different dates of birth, neither matching the only Devonte Watts on file. He eventually admitted his name was Justin Watts.
During a patdown for weapons, the deputy discovered a bag of marijuana in Watts’s clothing. Watts said the marijuana was the reason he was nervous and gave a false name. A criminal history check showed Watts had a previous conviction for possession of marijuana.
Watts was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for resisting an officer by giving false information, second offense possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of a controlled substance in the presence of a juvenile. Three small children were passengers in the vehicle.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
The Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame proudly announces the induction of eleven exceptional individuals into its ranks for the 16th Class. This year’s Hall of Fame induction banquet is scheduled for Saturday, July 13th, at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center, situated on the historic grounds of Grambling State University.
Established by Grambling Legends, Inc., this event serves as a distinguished platform to honor former university student-athletes, administrators, and contributors, while extending support to Grambling State University’s current athletics program. With over 170 remarkable individuals previously enshrined, this year’s induction ceremony promises to continue the tradition of excellence.
Beginning at 6:00 p.m., the Hall of Fame enshrinement dinner will feature a captivating “Parade of Stars” and poignant video tributes commemorating each inductee’s remarkable achievements.
Following a rigorous selection process, eleven outstanding individuals have been chosen for induction in various categories. Representing football are Glynn Alexander, Aldrich Allen, Scotty Anderson, and Herman Arvie. Elsie Dillard and Napoleon Johnson stand as basketball honorees, while Michael Cummings and Robert Williams represent baseball. Track and field contributions are celebrated through the induction of Ainsley Armstrong and Gail Emmanuel. Additionally, former Band Director Larry Pannell will be recognized in the contributor category.
In addition to honoring the inductees, special recognition will be accorded to individuals and teams whose contributions have left an indelible mark on Grambling State University’s collegiate sports landscape, particularly during the 2023-24 academic year.
The festivities extend beyond the induction ceremony, with the 2024 Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame weekend featuring a press conference on Friday, July 12th, at 4:30 p.m. at the Eddie G. Robinson Museum. This will be followed by a “meet and greet” session at 5 p.m. in the Doris Robinson Hall, where current and former inductees will interact with the public.
For further details regarding the Grambling Legends Sports Hall of Fame, including ticket purchases and advertisement opportunities, please contact Dr. Ruby D. Higgins at 318-243-7557 or via email at rubydhiggins@yahoo.com.
Motorists using Interstate 20 can expect a slight detour at Calhoun just inside Ouachita Parish the weekend of March 15-18.
The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development has announced the La. Highway 151 overpass in Calhoun (exit 101) will undergo construction beginning Friday, March 15.
The project is expected to last 90 days and will require the La. 151 overpass bridge to be closed to all traffic. The project will replace six bridge girders, re-deck the bridge surface, and replace the barrier & guardrail.
Of particular note to Lincoln Parish residents, Interstate 20—both eastbound and westbound—will be closed at exit 101 at 8 p.m. on March 15 and expected to reopen at 6 a.m. Monday, March 18. During this three-day closure, interstate traffic will be rerouted off I-20 via the exit and entrance ramps and then back onto the Interstate..
Extreme caution is urged in making the transition onto the exit ramp, across La. 151 and onto the entrance ramp back to I-20.
There will be no I-20 access to or from La. 151 at Exit 101 during that weekend. Motorists can find more information at the DOTD website at http://www.dotd.la.gov.
Three seasons is a long time between district wins.
That drought has finally come to a close after a 9-7 win for the Ruston Bearcats (10-6, 1-0 District 2-5A) over Alexandria Senior High (9-7, 0-1 District 2-5A), despite a furious rally by the visiting team in the top of the seventh inning.
“I’m very excited for our girls,” second-year Ruston High head coach Lauren Garvie said. “Last year, they were right there (in district games). And we kept saying, let’s push a little harder. And tonight, the girls said that we’re not putting up with this anymore– we’re showing people who we are about.
“They hit well tonight. They played well tonight. They deserve all the credit in the world for how hard they have worked.”
Thanks in large part to a seven-run third inning for the Lady Bearcats, the ASH rally would ultimately come up short two runs short. Ruston would score those runs after freshman Gracelyn Underwood first singled to center field to score junior Abby Holton. Senior Murphy DeMoss soon followed with an inside-the-park home run to score herself and senior Cala Wilson. Senior Shelby Freeman would hit a line drive shortly after to center field to score sophomore Sage Tolar, who pitched all seven innings for Ruston.
Ruston junior Morgan Foster would score from third on a ground out to put the Lady Bearcat up 5-0 in the third, and two batters later, Holton would double to right field, which led to Freeman and freshman Jayla Spears both scoring on an error.
Holton doubled again in the bottom of the fifth to score Freeman to extend Ruston’s lead to 8-0.
Wilson would hit a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth in response to ASH scoring two runs in the top of the fifth.
Tolar would face 31 batters on the night in her appearance in the circle.
“Sage has grown so much as a player,” Garvie said. “She’s always been a good player, but I think this year, I’m seeing a different side of her in a way of leadership. That’s big for us, because next year we go from a pitching staff of three to two– and Sage has to be a leader, and I think she’s proving that she’s going to be.”
The Lady Bearcats last district win came on March 30, 2021, in a 7-1 win over Ouachita.
Ruston will return to action Thursday, March 7, at Pineville to continue district play.
Anna Claire Fitzgerald homered and Bailey Adams recorded four hits to lead the Cedar Creek Lady Cougars to a 15-4 win over Castor Tuesday night.
Fitzgerald and Adams both drove in three runs apiece while combining to score seven more as the Lady Cougars recorded 15 hits in the five-inning affair.
Creek (3-5) plated crooked numbers in every inning at the plate, scoring two in the first, seven in the second and three each in the third and fourth.
Smith picked up the win in the circle, allowing just one unearned run on one hits and three walks in 3.0 innings in the circle. Fitzgerald worked the final 2.0 innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
Cedar Creek will host Oak Grove Thursday at 5 p.m.
Ethan Bates continued his assault on the baseball leading Louisiana Tech to an 11-3 win over Xavier Tuesday night at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
Bates led and his Bulldog teammates followed.
The Tech closer and designated hitter recorded four hits — including a pair of doubles — and drove in three runs as the Bulldogs improved to 12-0 on the season.
Bates wasn’t the only Bulldog tearing the proverbial cover off the ball as Jorge Corona homered and drove in three runs and Dalton Davis made the most of his one hit with three RBI.
Tech scored three in the first, one in the second and two more in the fourth to build a 6-2 lead and then blew the game open with a four-run sixth that included Corona’s second home run of the year.
Logan McLeod scored three runs while Kasten Furr, Davis and Bates each crossed home plate twice.
Caden Copeland (3-0) picked up his third win of the season, tossing 4.0 innings while allowing two runs — one earned — on four hits and two walks with three punch outs.
Greg Martinez (1.2), Grant Hubka (1.1) and Ryan Harland (2.0) combined for 5.0 innings in relief, allowing just one run on five hits with nine combined strikeouts.
Tech will look for the two-game midweek sweep when the Bulldogs host the Musketeers tonight at 6 p.m.
Lauren Menzina started in the circle and helped lead the Bulldogs to a 3-1 win over McNeese Tuesday night. (Photo by Hunter Corneliusen)
Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
The Louisiana Tech Softball team wrapped up its six-game road trip with a thrilling 3-1 win over McNeese at the Cowgirl Diamond on Tuesday night.
The Bulldogs (13-4) used a total team effort to earn the road win as six different players recorded hits, and eight of nine starters reached base in the contest.
“Pitching, defense and timely hitting,” said head coach Josh Taylor. “That is what we talk about all the time and we got all three. We got a great start from Lauren Menzina. Mattison Buster came in in a tough situation and limited the damage to one run. Nicole (Hammoude) coming out in the top of the fifth and hitting the solo home run to tie it got our offense excited and going.
“Alannah Rogers had the big two-run double and there was our timely hitting to get it done. Brook Melnychuk coming in on the backside and shutting the door which was the plan. Things don’t go to plan very often but it certainly did in our favor with how we ran our pitching today.”
Trailing 1-0 in the top of the fifth inning, Hammoude stepped to the plate and hit a tape-measure solo home run to center field, tying the game 1-1. Tech put two more base runners on courtesy of Kylie Neel reaching on an error and Katelin Cooper drawing a walk. With one out in the inning, Rogers laced a double off the right-center field wall that scored Cooper and Neel to give the Bulldogs a 3-1 lead which they would not surrender.
The all-hands-on deck endeavor extended to the pitching circle. Menzina had another quality start, allowing a run and five hits in two innings pitched. Buster (1-0) recorded her first career win by throwing 2.2 scoreless innings in relief, surrendering just two hits and striking out two and Melnychuk was dominant in relief of Buster. Melnychuk earned her first career save of the season by retiring all seven batters faced while striking out two.
Starter Lindsay Davis took the loss for McNeese (12-9), dropping to 2-4 on the year.
The Bulldogs lead the all-time series with McNeese 59-31, including two wins in a three-day span.
Tech opens CUSA action at home this weekend with a three-game series against Sam Houston State Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
For the second year in the row, the Grambling State University men’s basketball team captured the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) regular season championship, this time with a 69-60 triumph over Bethune-Cookman on Monday night at the Fredrick C. Hobdy Assembly Center.
The win secured the No. 1 seed in the upcoming SWAC Men’s Basketball in Birmingham, Ala. for the Tigers. It also marked the third regular season crown under head coach Donte’ Jackson.
Three GSU players scored in double figures in the victory. Jourdan Smith led the way with 17 points, five rebounds, two steals, one block and an assist. Tra’Micahel Moton added 14 points and Jalen Johnson tacked on 11 points.
Antwan Burnett nearly completed a double-double, dominating the boards with a game-high 13 rebounds to go along with nine points.
Grambling State (16-13 overall, 13-3 SWAC) played from in front for much of the game. The Tigers, trailing 12-11 with 12:37 on the clock in the first half, grabbed a 13-12 lead on a Mikael Stevenson layup and never trailed again.
Leading 23-22 with 5:21 left in the opening period, GSU used a 12-4 run over the next five minutes to grab a 35-26 advantage just before halftime. A BCU three-pointer as time expired set the score at 35-29 heading into halftime.
The Tigers quickly grew its lead to double figures, snagging a 44-33 advantage at the 16:55 mark. GSU continued to wear down the Wildcats throughout the half, taking its largest lead of the game, 60-43, on a three-pointer by Kintavious Dozier with 4:33 to play.
Bethune-Cookman (15-15, 10-7) tried to rally late, but could only get as close as seven points, as GSU preserved the win down the stretch.
In today’s fast paced world, people are busier than ever. They are looking for ways to reset and decompress their brains. To maintain our overall health, we need to slow down both our thought and physical exertions. Today, we’ll look at ways so many people are getting the relief they need in order to function at a normal level.
More people today are taking part in counseling sessions to release tension and make sense of everything going on around us. But sadly, for some who are at an extreme high level of tension and depression, drugs are needed. Nothing is more important than our overall mental health. Whether it’s our jobs or just managing our families, stress creeps into our lives in different ways.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, boat, RV and ATV sales were out the roof nationwide. People turned to the great outdoors to get away from the stress that was associated with this dreaded disease. People were stuck working at home creating too much togetherness. Depression was also an internal fight for so many during this time, as lives and job careers were literally turned upside down.
For myself and so many others, we discovered that in order to maintain our metal health, fishing or any outdoor activity was good medicine. There’s just something about the peace and tranquility of sitting in a boat and wetting a hook. So many times, fishing guides have told me that some of their big city business clients told them that they don’t care if they catch a fish, they just want to get on the water and relax; catching fish is secondary.
There is absolutely nothing better for your soul or will give you a better perspective on life than being on the water watching a beautiful sunrise or sunset. There’s no better feeling than running across the water with the wind blowing through your hair on a cool brisk morning headed for a good fishing hole. It’s a great way to release whatever thoughts and tensions you might have.
The concrete jungle environment that so many people work in pushes stress levels over the top with traffic jams and work-related issues. No wonder the fishing guide business is so lucrative today as people continue to look to the outdoors to regain their sanity.
As people turn to the outdoors, they are realizing what so many of previous generations already knew. The outdoors truly is a sanctuary for both young and old. It’s a place someone can decompress and regain their mental capacity to fight through life’s daily struggles. Till next time, good luck, good fishing and take the time to get outdoors and enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer.
