Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Trailing 4-1 entering the bottom of the seventh, Louisiana Tech softball used back-to-back two-out, two-run home runs to defeat New Mexico State 5-4 in the opening round of the Conference USA Tournament on Wednesday afternoon at WKU Softball Complex.
The Bulldogs and Aggies finished with seven hits apiece, but LA Tech’s timely hitting in the seventh proved to be the difference as Reagan Marchant and Addison Snyder provided the final fireworks.
“We had great fight,” said head coach Josh Taylor. “We just fought until the end.”
Senior Alyssa Martin earned the win in the circle after entering the game in top of the first inning, replacing Allie Floyd who left the game due to injury after facing just three batters. Martin picked up where she left off against Sam Houston this past Sunday, tossing 6.1 innings while allowing four runs on seven hits.
“When you look at what Alyssa was able to do today … that was just a tremendous effort,” said Taylor.
Scoreless through the first three innings, the Bulldogs and Aggies left a combined eight runners on base with four belonging to each team.
LA Tech recorded its first hit of the game in the bottom of the second as Allie Furr ripped a single past the outstretched glove of NMSU’s second baseman. Elena Heng would reach base via walk in the inning, but the Bulldogs were not able to make anything of it.
NMSU got three runners aboard with two outs in the top of the third, but Martin was able to induce a popout to first to end the Aggies’ scoring threat.
The Aggies struck first in the top of the fourth as they collected three hits and one run to make it 1-0. They led off the inning with a single, followed by a line out and another single. With two on, NMSU doubled to left center and got one across, but a strong throw from Alexis Gilio to Nicole Hammoude who relayed it home to Snyder prevented a second run from scoring on the play.
The Bulldogs tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the fifth after logging two hits. Heng recorded a one out single and advanced to second on a Gilio hit by pitch, followed by a Claire Raley singled to center to load the bases for LA Tech. After an infield fly to record a second out, Heng used her speed to come around to score on a wild pitch.
While it is only May, the fireworks were flying like it was the Fourth of July as the seventh inning saw a combined three home runs and seven runs. The Aggies went up 4-1 after a single and a walk put two on base for the Aggies. NMSU launched a three-run home run to make it 4-1.
The Bulldogs responded in a big way in the seventh, scoring four runs on three hits and walking off the Aggies to win it. After a flyout to start the bottom half, Gilio singled to second and advanced to second on a wild pitch.
Raley moved Gilio over to third on a groundout, followed by Marchant’s 18th home run of the season to cut NMSU’s lead to one. The home run by Marchant broke the 16-year-old LA Tech single season record of 17 set by Amberly Waits in 2009.
Following the home run, Hammoude kept the game alive by drawing a walk to bring Snyder to the plate.
Down in the count 1-2 with two outs, Snyder launched a two-run home run to straight away centerfield for her first career bomb to lift the Bulldogs over the Aggies in walk-off fashion.
“We got the two big home runs in the bottom of the seventh,” said Taylor. “I just loved the way we fought today. With Addison, we know it’s there. She is just a freshman. When she swings it and gets after it, we know the power and ability are there. She has been searching for it, and what a great time to find it.”
Tech will face regular season champion and No. 1 seed Liberty today at 12:30 p.m.
