Bulldogs take care of GSU 8-0 in local softball
The Louisiana Tech softball team continued its winning ways with an 8-0 run-rule victory over Grambling State Tuesday night at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
Nicole Hammoude highlighted the Tech (23-6) offense by hitting a first-inning grand slam to open the scoring. The grand slam was her third home run of the season, tying Claire Raley for the team lead.
It was Hammoude’s first career grand slam, as she has now homered in back-to-back games as she belted a 3-run shot in the win over WKU on Sunday. Kylie Neel had a 2-for-2 day with a double and a run scored, while Paris Endris drove in 2 runs with a fourth-inning single, giving Tech its seventh and eighth runs of the contest.
Ella Rose Wright collected an RBI single, while Alannah Rogers and Katelin Cooper recorded hits, and Alexis Gilio drove in a run. The Bulldogs’ pitching staff dominated in the win, allowing just 1 hit and no walks in the contest.
Grambling State designated player Tavia Leadon singled in the third atbat of the game, recording the Tigers’ lone hit in the contest. Following the single, the Tech pitching staff retired the next 13 batters.
Alyssa Martin (2-0) earned the win by throwing three perfect innings in relief while striking out two. Mattison Buster threw 2 scoreless innings, allowing 1 hit and striking out 1 in her third start of the season. Sherrell Matthews took the loss for Grambling State (10-18) to fall to 0-6 on the season. The Bulldogs only took one hour and 18 minutes to run-rule the Lady Tigers, the quickest game for Tech since a 8-0 loss at Tulsa on March 28, 2021.
“We took care of business,” Tech head coach Josh Taylor said. “Hammoude with the grand slam in the first inning created some separation which allowed us to do a lot of different things. We got to see Mattison Buster start the game and had a good outing. Alyssa Martin did a really good job of keeping them off-balanced and putting zeros on the board. We were efficient with our pitch count and at-bats. We took our walks when we needed them to create the big inning. I was happy with tonight. We took care of business and we have a long road trip in front of us with Liberty this weekend and we are on to that now.”
The Bulldogs (23-6, 7-2 CUSA) will travel to Lynchburg, Virginia for a crucial CUSA series with Liberty (17-14, 7-2 CUSA), beginning tonight at 5 p.m.
