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LA Tech bounces back after falling to No. 12 Florida State in game one
Source: Louisiana Tech Athletics
By Stephen Featherston
Photo By Malcolm Butler for Louisiana Tech: Courtesy
PUERTO VALLARTA, MEXICO – The Louisiana Tech softball team picked up its first win over a top 10 opponent since the 2008 season as the Bulldogs defeated No. 4 Oklahoma State 6-1 in their second game of the afternoon on Friday.
LA Tech took on No. 12 Florida State in the first game of the day and fell 6-3 to the Seminoles.
The win over OSU marked LA Tech’s first win over a ranked opponent in nearly six years when the Bulldogs defeated No. 17 Auburn on February 9, 2019. It was the team’s first win over a top 10 ranked team since May 8, 2008, when the Bulldogs edged No. 10 Fresno State 3-2.
GAME TWO
Allie Floyd did what Allie Floyd does and limited the No. 4 ranked Oklahoma State Cowgirls to just one run in a complete game performance. Floyd, who tossed a complete game yesterday against Northern Colorado, moves to 2-0 on the season after allowing just one run on seven hits while striking out four.
After a scoreless first inning, LA Tech jumped out to 4-0 lead in the bottom of the second and never looked back, cruising to a 6-1 victory. Addison Snyder got the inning started with a single to third base, followed by back-to-back walks to Claire Raley and Nicole Hammoude. KB Briley also saw four consecutive balls and drew a walk which scored Snyder for the game’s first run. Allie Furr joined the walk party, which scored Raley. After a pitching change, Alexis Gilio reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on the throw which allowed Hammoude to score the games fourth run.
OSU got on the board in the top of the sixth after starting the inning off with a double. A sac bunt and single to third base allowed the Cowgirls to score their lone run of the game.
LA Tech added two insurance runs the bottom of the sixth inning to make it 6-1. Reagan Marchant reached base on a double to center field and was pinch ran for by Jina Baffuto. Raley singled and advanced to second on a throw which resulted in an error, allowing Baffuto to cross the plate. Hammoude singled to left center to plate Raley giving the Bulldogs the 6-1 advantage heading into the top of the seventh.
Floyd got the first batter of the inning to fly out to left. A single and an error allowed a Cowgirl to reach second, who would advance to third on a fly out to cf. Floyd then allowed a walk, but was able to induce a third fly out to earn her second consecutive complete game win.
GAME ONE
A five run first inning from Florida State was the deciding factor in game one of the afternoon as the Seminoles were able to hold on for a 6-3 victory. Mattison Buster earned the start and took the loss for the Bulldogs after allowing three runs on one hit while walking two.
Isa Torres singled to start the game for FSU, followed by back-to-back walks to load the bases. Katie Dack was able to plate four with one swing as she hit a grand slam to left center, giving FSU a 4-0 lead. A single and triple allowed FSU to score another run, making it 5-0 after the first frame.
The Seminoles score their final run in the top of the third on a throwing error.
The Bulldogs posted three runs in bottom of the fourth. Elena Heng came around to score on a Snyder single to left after reaching on an error to start the frame. Snyder was able to reach second base on the throw, and would be pinch ran for by Gracie Flores, who came around to score Claire Raley’s doubled down the right field line. Nicole Hammoude singled through the left side, scoring Raley to make it 6-3 FSU.
Alyssa Martin relived Buster in the top of the first and went on to toss 4.0 innings while allowing three runs on six hits along with four strikeouts. True freshman Ryleigh Shull made her collegiate debut in the circle in the top of the fifth innings and had a stellar debut, allowing no runs, one hit while striking out two.
Raley and Hammoude led the Bulldogs with two hits apiece, while also being credited with one RBI each. Alexis Gilio and Snyder both had one hit while Snyder added an RBI to her line.
QUOTABLES
Head coach Josh Taylor
On the program first win over a top 10 team in 17 years…
“I actually did not know that to be quite honest with you, and it is a little surprising to me because I know Louisiana Tech and their history, and they have had a lot of really great teams in their history. I can think of a lot of really great players that have come through LA Tech’s program since 2008, so that is surprising to me. We’re excited about it; it’s a culmination of a lot of things. When you think of the 2019 team that withstood the tornado and the new facilities we have and me coming to Louisiana Tech, and all the people involved in it. It’s just exciting. It means a lot in that regard, but I just did not know that until it was mentioned to me just a few minutes ago. I just think of all those great teams that were before us.
On the program first win over a top 10 team in 17 years…
“Allie is just tremendous as far as her work ethic goes. For a lack of better words and not trying to be too punny, she’s a bulldog. When you look at Alli Floyd and how she works and the stuff that’s on the side and all the offseason conditioning she does, and the things does to be ready to have a performance like that is not that surprising to me. I see the way she works and the way she gets after it, and I see the little wrinkles she has added this year. It’s an incredible work ethic, incredible hear and she’s everything we want a Louisiana Tech Bulldog softball player to look like.”
Pitcher Allie Floyd
On the win…
“First and foremost, I just want to thank Jesus, my Lord and Savior, without him I would not be here today.” “Wow, that’s all I can say. This team has worked so hard. Our fall was definitely hard. We were not doing the best as we were trying to put pieces together to figure out what would work for us and just everything we’ve had to overcome and where we are today, just wow.”
What was the conversation coming into day and facing two top 25 teams…
“Just staying focused and knowing we can compete with top 25 teams. Yeah, we are a mid-major, but come on, we can compete, look, we just did it.”
On the performance in the outfield and the confidence it brings…
“So much confidence. When there are two outs and there is a pop fly I grab my stuff and start walking off the field, that’s how confident I am in them.”
On the momentum moving forward…
“It gives us a lot of momentum, but also, we are just going to be excited tonight and then we have another day tomorrow to attack Florida State and Northern Colorado so it’s going to be a new day, so we’ve got to reset. I’m just so proud of this team and I would not be here without them. Six runs is awesome, having them behind my back means everything to me.”
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NOTABLES
-The win over No. 4 OSU was LA Tech’s first win over a top 10 team since they beat #10 Fresno State 3-2 in eight innings on May 8, 2008.
-The win also marked Tech’s first ranked win since defeating No. 17 Auburn 2-1 on February 9, 2019.
-The Bulldogs moved to 3-5 all-time in games played in Mexico.
–Josh Taylor moves to 338-235 as a head coach.
–Josh Taylor moves to 105-67 at LA Tech.
–Nicole Hammoude, Claire Raley, and Addison Snyder have three game hit-streaks.
–Nicole Hammoude has recorded an RBI in each of the first three games.
–Ryleigh Shull made her collegiate debut in the circle.
–Allie Floyd pitched her second consecutive complete game, giving her 14 for her career.
–Alexis Gilio improved her hit-streak to nine games after the FSU game but was unable to record a hit in game two.
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NEXT UP
The Bulldogs will close things out in the PV Challenge with two games on Saturday. Tech will face Northern Colorado at 1:00 p.m. and No. 12 Florida State at 4:00 p.m.
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