Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech softball used three home runs and a strong start from freshman Laney Johnson to power past Northwestern State 9-1 in five innings on a cold Tuesday afternoon at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. The win moves LA Tech to 5-5 on the season.
Johnson made her first collegiate start in the circle and pitched a complete game to earn her first collegiate win. The freshman from Stonewall allowed just one run on three hits with no walks. Johnson Induced 10 groundouts and five fly balls as her defense behind her committed zero errors. Johnson faced the minimum number of batters in three of five innings.
The Bulldogs had four players register two hits apiece in Elena Heng, Alexis Gilio, Alannah Rogers and Kaylee Grealy. It marked the third two-hit game in a row for Heng and Rogers while it was the second two hit contest in a row for Gilio. Kaylee Grealy recorded her first two hits of the season today, while Claire Raley registered her first home run of the season on a solo shot. Reagan Marchant also tacked on a home run, which plated three as she and Gilio both recorded three RBI against the Demons.
LA Tech grabbed an early 2-0 lead after the first frame as Gilio hit her first career home run on a two-run blast to right field that scored Heng. Heng received a leadoff walk to start the inning followed by a steal of second.
The Demons scored their lone run of the afternoon on a leadoff solo shot to left center to cut the lead in half at 2-1.
The Bulldogs responded with a run in the bottom of the third as Heng tripled to start the inning and came around to score on a Gilio double, marking her third RBI of the game.
The Bulldogs exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to take a 6-2 lead over NSU. Grealy tallied her first hit of the season on a leadoff double to left center. Grealy was pinch ran for by Gracie Flores who advanced to third on an Allie Furr bunt single. Heng singled to center field to drive in Flores to make it 4-1 LA Tech. Gilio got on base after being hit by a pitch, followed by Rogers who connected on a single to center to score Heng to give the Bulldogs a four-run lead.
Marchant took the first pitch she saw over the left field wall which scored Rogers and Gilio to make it 8-3 LA Tech. Raley followed Marchant with a solo blast to dead center making it 9-1 Bulldogs after four innings. Johnson induced two groundouts and a line out to secure the 9-1 complete game win.
LA Tech moves to 63-52 all-time against NSU.
The Bulldogs will be back in action this weekend as they head to Huntsville, Alabama, to play four games in the Rocket City Showcase. LA Tech will face off against No. 20 Auburn on Friday at 1:00 p.m.
