Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech will host a busy weekend of home events, highlighted by a Conference USA softball series against Sam Houston and the Jim Mize Invitational for the track and field teams in Ruston.
The Bulldogs open a three-game softball series against the Bearkats today at 6 p.m. at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. The series continues Saturday at 2 p.m. and concludes Sunday at 11 a.m., with all three games streamed on ESPN+.
Louisiana Tech (22-21, 8-10 CUSA) enters the weekend after dropping two of three games to FIU, despite outhitting the Panthers 29-27 in the series. The Bulldogs recorded at least 10 hits in both Friday’s loss and Saturday’s win.
Allie Furr and Gracie Flores paced the offense last weekend with five hits apiece, while Reagan Marchant added four hits — all solo home runs — and a team-high six RBIs. Marchant leads the team with 41 RBIs on the season and is tied for the Conference USA lead with 15 home runs. Furr leads the team with 52 hits, followed closely by Elena Heng with 50.
Freshman Bradi Gallaway continues to contribute offensively, totaling 10 home runs this season, tied for the most by a freshman in program history. Flores enters the weekend on a nine-game hitting streak, batting .500 over that span.
In the circle, Laney Johnson improved to 6-3 with a win over FIU, while Bryannah Campos secured her second save of the season. Allie Floyd leads the pitching staff with a 9-13 record and 90 strikeouts.
Sam Houston (27-19, 11-7 CUSA) has won five of its six conference series this season and holds series victories over UTEP, New Mexico State, Kennesaw State, Middle Tennessee and Missouri State. The Bearkats are batting .291 as a team and have outscored opponents 237-197.
Sophia Lundstrom leads Sam Houston with a .406 batting average, while Veronica Harrison ranks among the conference leaders with 15 home runs and 41 RBIs. In the circle, Tiffany Sanchez leads the staff with a 10-6 record and 85 strikeouts.
Louisiana Tech holds a 21-15 advantage in the all-time series, though Sam Houston won two of three meetings last season in Huntsville.
Meanwhile, the Louisiana Tech men’s and women’s track and field teams will host the Jim Mize Invitational today at the Jim Mize Track and Field Complex. Field events begin at 9 a.m., with running events set for noon.
The Bulldogs are coming off a strong showing at the Pepsi Florida Relays earlier this month, highlighted by a dominant performance in the women’s 4×400-meter relay. The team of Osaretin Joy Usenbor, Jamara Patterson, Tyhra Charles and Nia Wiley captured first place with a time of 3 minutes, 30.13 seconds — the second-fastest outdoor mark in program history and currently ranked 11th nationally.
Patterson also placed third in the 400 meters with a time of 51.74 seconds, marking the second-fastest time in program history. She now holds four of the top five outdoor 400-meter times in school history.
According to the latest U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Coaches Association rankings, Louisiana Tech’s men’s 100-meter squad is ranked 14th nationally and leads Conference USA. The women’s 400-meter group is ranked eighth in the country, with Patterson also ranked 10th individually.
Both events give Louisiana Tech an opportunity to build momentum as conference play and postseason competition approach.
