Ground Chuk: Tech ace throws third complete game over UTEP

Behind a completegame shutout from redshirt junior Brook Melnychuk and a pair of RBI singles from Katelin Cooper, the Louisiana Tech softball team defeated UTEP, 2-0, in the opening round of the Conference USA Championship at the New Mexico State Softball Complex.

Melnychuk only threw 69 pitches while striking out 4 and allowing 3 hits and no walks during her second career seveninning complete- game shutout. The redshirt junior did not reach a single three- ball count during the win. She went to just five two-ball counts and got six outs on the first pitch.

Melnychuk recorded four 1-2-3 innings and did not allow a runner to reach third base during the victory. With the win, she improved to 13-7 on the season. The Saskatchewan, Canada product has gone the distance in her last three outings, posting a 0.33 ERA, 11 strikeouts, one walk, and 13 hits allowed in 21 innings pitched.

Melnychuk became the first LA Tech pitcher to throw a seven-inning complete game in three consecutive starts since AudreyPickettdidsofrom March 25-April 1 2022. Cooper led the way at the plate by driving in both of the Bulldogs’ runs with a pair of two-out RBI singles.

The sixth- year senior put LA Tech on the board in the bottom of the second with a bloop-single into center field that scored Paris Endris. Cooper provided insurance in the fourth inning by singling through the right side to drive home Nicole Hammoude.

In addition to Coo-per, Kylie Neel ( 13), Alexis Gilio ( 12), Claire Raley ( 1- 2) and Alannah Rogers (14) all singled. Endris, Hammoude, and Brooke Diaz also reached on walks during the victory. Aragon went the distance and took the loss for UTEP ( 26- 20, 11- 13 CUSA), falling to 12- 9 this season. She allowed two runs on six hits and walked three.

“I thought we hit the ball better than what it says in the box score,” LA Tech head coach Josh Taylor said. “We hit some balls hard that they made some really nice plays on. There was a lot of opportunities for us. We got two big two-out hits from Katelin Cooper. Kylie Neel hit the ball really well and Alexis Gilio was great offensively.

“I think we did a good job executing when we needed too. We took advantage of the extra bases when they gave it to us. Overall it was a solid performance. Our defense was really good. Claire Raley was fantastic at third base.”

As for his thoughts on Melnychuk, Taylor said, “Brook was extremely efficient. She had good velocity and was working both sides of the plate. She was effective in on their hands. It was an incredible performance. Sixty- nine pitches is just incredible. She had no three-ball counts all game and only five two ball counts. She got six outs on the first pitch. It was an incredible performance but Chuk.”

Melnychuk got the Miners’ Lexi Morales to ground out to Nicole Hammoude at shortstop to lead off the ballgame. A batter later, Autumn Scott singled to left-center for the game’s first hit. Melnychuk struck out Halle Hogan for the second out of the frame before getting a groundout to complete the scoreless frame. Alannah Rogers led off the bottom half by capping a 12- pitch at- bat with a single to left field. Rogers would reach second on a sacrifice bunt by Alexis Gilio.

Rogers moved to third on an opposite-field single by Kylie Neel. However, Aragon and UTEP would escape with an inning-ending flyout to left field.

Melnychuk recorded a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the second courtesy of a foul-out and consecutive groundouts. Hammoude reached on a one-out walk in the bottom half before getting out on a fielder’s choice.

Paris Endris hit into the fielder’s choice to reach first and advanced to second on a passed ball. Katelin Cooper drove her in with an RBI single to shallow center field to give LA Tech the early 1-0 lead.

The Miners’ Lexi Morales doubled down the left-field line in the third inning. In the bottom half, Claire Raley reached on a one-out bunt single.

Alexis Gilio and Neel were robbed of base hits at the bottom of the inning when the Miners made a pair of impressive web gems. Melnychuk retired the Miners in order with a 1-2-3 top of the fourth.

C a r o l i n e E a som reached on an error to start the home half. She would be replaced at first with one out after Hammoude hit into a fielder’s choice. Hammoude moved up to second on a wild pitch.

Cooper then delivered another RBI single, this time on a ground ball through the right side to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 2-0. In the fifth inning, Melnychuk yielded a leadoff single before retiring the next three batters faced with a groundout and consecutive infield pop-ups.

Alexis Gilio legged out an infield single to shortstop to lead off the bottom half. She would then advance to second on a sacrifice bunt by Claire Raley and third on a groundout by Kylie Neel.

Brooke Diaz drew a two-out walk to put runners on the corners, but Aragon would escape unscathed with a groundout. Melnychuk made a spectacular grab on a hard-hit line drive for the first out of the sixth inning.

She would then pick up her fourth strikeout of the game for the second out before issuing a groundout to Easom at second base for the final out of the frame.

Endris walked with one out in the bottom of the sixth and would be pinch-ran for by Olivia Ellingson, but the Miners would keep Tech off the scoreboard.

In the top of the seventh, Melnychuk got the Miners’ power hitter Ajia Richard to fly out to Gilio in deep center field. Raley then made an impressive play on a one- hopper for the second out of the inning before Melnychuk issued a groundout to Hammoude for the last out of the contest.

The Bulldogs continue play at the CUSA Championship tomorrow in Las Cruces.