Techsters remain hot with 11-3 pasting of SFA

Louisiana Tech erupted for 9 runs in the second inning and recorded its second straight run-rule victory defeating Stephen F. Austin 11-3 Thursday night at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.

Tech (24-15), which run-ruled ULM just two nights before, snapped the Ladyjacks nine-game winning streak and did it with a dominating performance.

Amanda Gonzalez, Lindsay Edwards and Kylie Neel each registered 3 RBIs in the victory while they were joined in the multi-hit club by Sierra Sacco and Madie Green.

“We really swung the bats well tonight, especially early,” Tech head coach Josh Taylor said. “We are steadily starting to figure out how to be hitters. How to understand hitting. Situations. Counts. Making adjustments. It’s really fun to see the progress.”

Tech sent 12 batters to the plate in bottom of the second inning, scoring 9 runs on 9 hits and an error. Neel had a bases-clearing double while Edwards had an RBI single and a tworun double in the frame.

For the second time this year, Tech chased WAC Pitcher of the Year Kassidy Wilbur early in a game. This time Wilbur worked just one inning, allowing three earned runs on five hits before being pulled with no outs in the second inning.

The carnage continued as SFA reliever Sophie Hannabas managed to record just two outs while allowing six runs on six hits. By the time Brooke Gainous came on for SFA, the damage was done.

Tech starter Audrey Pickett (17-4) picked up another win despite not having her best stuff in the circle. Pickett worked around base runners most of the night, allowing just three runs on 10 hits in 6 innings of work.

Gonzalez ended the game in the bottom of the sixth for the Lady Techsters, lining a pitch to straight away centerfield for a two-run home run – her sixth of the year.

Tech will host Nicholls State in a three-game non-conference series this weekend with a 6 p.m. single game on Friday and a 12 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday.