Courtesy of LA Tech Athletics and GSU Athletics
Bulldog Baseball sweeps HCU (Friday thru Sunday in Ruston)
4-0 is how the Bulldogs come out of Opening Weekend for the third-straight season and the seventh time in the Lane Burroughs era since 2017. LA Tech is now 14-1 when playing against Houston Christian and have won their last 10 matchups.
Tech won Friday’s opener 17-4 in a run-rule shortened affair behind a pair of grand slams from Ruston product Cade Patterson and then swept Saturday’s doubleheader 5-3 and 6-4.
“Just extremely proud of this team,” said head coach Lane Burroughs. “Opening Weekend can go a lot of ways-a lot of dynamics involved, anxiety, guys are amped up [and] sometimes you don’t play your best. I think the most impressive thing to me is we had so many different games. We had two run-rule games that we played extremely well, and then we had two gut-check games yesterday that could’ve gone either way, and we were able to pull those out as well.”
An 11-0 7-inning run-rule victory was the outcome of Sunday’s game against the Huskies, the ‘Dogs’ second run-rule win of the weekend. Tech was out to a 5-0 lead by the end of the third inning with an RBI single from Sebastian Mexico to open the scoring followed by a two-run base hit up the middle of the infield from Cade Patterson.
Matt Houston made his season debut behind the dish for the Bulldogs on Sunday, and mashed his first homer of the season on the second pitch of his first at-bat in the second inning. Following a double by Lunsford, a single from Hayden Gustavson and a throwing error from HCU’s second baseman, the Bulldogs had extended out by five runs going into the fourth.
Brooks Roberson dominated on the mound in his first start of 2026, tossing six scoreless frames allowing just two hits, one walk and striking out three Husky hitters. The reigning CUSA Freshman of the Year was perfect through the first three frames before the perfect game was broken up on a throwing error to lead off the fourth.
“Brooks Roberson looked as good today on the mound as he has in a really long time, and that’s why he was Freshman of the Year last year in CUSA,” said Burroughs. “I thought he was in total command from the start. He’s very competitive, he can be a kid that can get a little too amped up sometimes-you have to keep him calm.”
The following two batters also reached on a fielder’s choice and a walk, but a lineout double play put a halt to HCU’s threat and ended the frame.
For the first time since 2018, the Bulldogs have had at least three starting pitchers throw at least five innings during the opening series of the season.
Following a pitching change and a strikeout to start the bottom half of the sixth, Houston belted his second homer of the day to the third deck of the center field apartments behind the Love Shack.
Casey McCoy followed with his fifth hit of the weekend and first double of his career to give Tech a runner in scoring position with just one out. Colton Coates drew a four-pitch walk before Trey Hawsey made it a 7-0 game with an RBI knock through the left side.
Jackson Jones made his first career appearance in relief in the seventh, retiring the side in order on just eight pitches with two groundouts and a lineout.
The first four batters for Tech in the home half all reached safely and extend the advantage to nine. Patterson drew a walk followed by three-straight base hits off the bats of Gustavson, Zeb Ruddell and Houston with RBIs credited to Ruddell and Houston. A double play brought HCU to just one out away from extending the game to the eighth, but a two-run homer from Coates walked the game off for the second run-rule victory of the weekend.
“I thought we defended well all weekend,” said Burroughs. “We had two good starts on the mound along with two mediocre starts. Had some bullpen hiccups but also some guys show out in the bullpen. I told the team they have to stay hungry and humble, but I thought we looked like a really good team. We clicked, and that’s what we expected.”
The Bulldogs close out the five-game homestand to start the season on Wednesday, February 18 for a midweek clash with McNeese at the Love Shack. First pitch for Wednesday’s contest is set for 6 p.m. CT.
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Tech Softball at Mardi Gras Mambo (Friday-Sunday in Youngsville)
Louisiana Tech softball closed the Mardi Mambo with a 7-4 win over Georgia State on Sunday at the Youngsville Sports Complex.
The Bulldogs finished the three-day event with a 3-2 mark to improve their record to 8-2 on the season.
Tech defeated New Mexico 4-3 Friday on a Reagan Marchant walk-off home run and then downed SIUE Saturday 7-3 while it fell to Eastern Illinois (4-2 on Friday) and St. Thomas (8-2 on Saturday).
“This week we had many challenges,” said head coach Josh Taylor. “There were times that our offense was explosive, and there were times that we fell short of our offensive capabilities. Reagan Marchant, Reese Torres, Aleah Brooks, and Bradi Gallaway were able to start to become the run producers we know they are, and our speed players found a way to consistently set the table for them. We played very well defensively all week and will look for that to continue.”
In Sunday’s win over future Sun Belt foe Georgia State, LA Tech scored five of its runs on home runs by Marchant and Reese Torres. Marchant had a three-run blast while Torres connected on a two-run shot. Ruston product Allie Furr had a two-hit day and drove in one run while Elena Heng also recorded two base knocks.
Bradi Gallaway registered one hit and one RBI, followed by Cali Bennett, Aleah Brooks and Jina Baffuto who all had one hit apiece. Four of Tech’s 10 hits went for extra bases.
Ruby Fidge earned the win in the circle after pitching five innings of one run softball. Fidge allowed one unearned run on five hits and struck out three in her relief appearance. Bryannah Campos tossed the final two frames and allowed one run on three hits. Ryleigh Shull made the start and gave up two runs on two hits while walking two.
The Panthers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first, taking advantage of two singles, two walks and a sac fly.
After a scoreless second, LA Tech’s bats came alive in the third, registering seven runs on six hits. Baffuto led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second on a Heng bunt. Gallaway singled to right field to score Baffuto while Heng moved to third. Marchant was able to clear the bases with her third home run of the weekend, driving in Gallaway and Heng to make it 4-2.
Brooks followed with a single and was replaced by pinch runner Avery Jefferson, who stole second and later scored on a triple by Furr. Torres then homered to left-center to drive in Furr and give Tech a 7-2 lead.
Georgia State added runs in the fourth and seventh innings, but the Bulldogs limited the damage to secure a 7-4 victory. Campos worked around three singles in the seventh to close the game.
“Our pitching was really strong at times, led by Allie Floyd and Laney Johnson,” said Taylor. “We still need to find consistency with how we attack hitters and get ahead in counts. Ruby Fidge was fantastic on Sunday, getting out of a tough situation in the first inning and giving up no earned runs through five innings of work. Overall, there is much room for improvement, but I feel we are just getting started with how good this ball club can be.”
Tech hosts Northwestern State in the home opener Tuesday at 6 p.m. before hosting ULM (Thursday) and Southern Miss (Friday-Sunday).
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Missouri State 9, Tigers Softball 1 (Friday in Commerce, Texas)
Grambling State was limited to one run as Missouri State pulled away late for a 9–1 victory Friday morning at John Cain Family Field in Lion Invitational action.
GSU defeated SEMO 8-1 and lost to East Texas A&M 10-8 on Thursday.
On Friday, Missouri State struck first with a solo home run in the opening inning and added single runs in the second and third to take a 3–0 lead.
Grambling State broke through in the top of the fourth when Hailey Hughes drew a walk and Cadashia Collins scored on a wild pitch to cut the deficit to 3–1.
Any momentum was short-lived, however, as Missouri State answered with a solo homer in the bottom of the fourth and erupted for five runs in the fifth inning to extend the advantage to 9–1 and secure the win.
Tavia Leadon recorded Grambling State’s lone hit with a single, while Collins scored the Tigers only run.
Zoe Roland worked 4.2 innings in the circle allowing nine runs (seven earned) with one strikeout.
Missouri State was led by Alexis Perales, who finished 2-for-4 with two home runs and three RBIs. Kayla Ulrich also homered, and Brynn Romine went 3-for-3 with two runs scored.
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Tech Indoor Track and Field
The Louisiana Tech men’s and women’s track and field teams finished out their fourth meet of the year and now have their sights set on the Conference USA Indoor Championships in Lynchburg, Virginia taking place February 28-March 1.
Saturday was highlighted by the men’s 4×400 relay team of Rickey Williams III, Sabastian Bradley-Reed, Prentice Sanders and Cullen Hronek setting the third indoor program record of the weekend for Louisiana Tech, running a time of 3:09.16 to break the record by over a second, previously set at last year’s Tyson Invitational on February 15, 2025.
The Bulldogs saw several improving marks for 2026, with five season-best times and six top-20 finishes in a meet that was comprised of several top NCAA Division I athletes and many Olympian athletes.
LA Tech now turns its attention to the 2026 CUSA Indoor Championships hosted by Liberty in Lynchburg, Virginia on February 28 and March 1.
Season bests:
Jaitlyn Ware – 200 – 24.15
Jamara Patterson – 400 – 53.11 (indoor program record)
Osaretin Usenbor – 400 – 54.33
Abdul Rashid – 60m – 6.97
Sabastian Bradley-Reed – 400 – 46.60 (indoor program record)
Cobe Johnson – Long Jump – 7.44m
Top-20 finishes:
Women’s 4×400 – 7th – 3:37.61
Madonna Favour – 19th – 60 – 6.79
Men’s 4×400 – 9th – 3:09.16 (indoor program record)
Cobe Johnson – 7th – 7.44
Sabastian Bradley-Reed – 15th – 400
Jamara Patterson – 17th – 400
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Tech Tennis sweeps UTA
Louisiana Tech picked up its first true road win of the season, sweeping UT Arlington in a 7-0 victory on Sunday afternoon at the UTA Tennis Center.
LA Tech (4-2) clinched the doubles point with wins on courts one and two then swept all six singles courts to collect their third straight victory against UTA (2-5).
The sophomore tandem of Alice Brook and Maria Tsironi got in the win column first at the No. 2 spot, winning handily 6-1 for their 15th all-time victory as a duo. The reigning CUSA Doubles Team of the Week of Zoie Epps and Isabella Walker then clinched the opening point, claiming a 6-2 victory at No. 1.
Both Epps and Walker then quickly provided points in singles. Epps was in complete control versus the Mavericks Elizave Mladentseva on court one, dropping just one game to win 6-1, 6-0 for her 40th career dual singles victory.
The third point for the Bulldogs came from Walker. The strong freshman campaign continued with a 6-4, 6-1 win over Tasnime Ahamout on court six. The clincher also came in the form of straight sets as June Vigneron topped Flora Farkaslaki on court four with a 7-5, 7-5 win.
The remaining three courts were played out and all went the distance in favor of LA Tech. Diana Starodubtseva claimed a 6-1, 3-6, 6-1 win at No. 2, Tsironi posted a 6-3, 2-6, 6-2 victory at No. 3, and Mio Kozaki, playing her first dual singles match of the season, prevailed 5-7, 7-5, 1-0 (7).
