Louisiana Tech lost its series opener to Southern Miss 2-1 on Friday night at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field. The Bulldogs are now 10-3 for the season after being outhit 9-5 by the Golden Eagles, who also collected three doubles compared to none for LA Tech.
Reese Torres led Louisiana Tech with two hits. Cali Bennett, Allie Furr, and Elena Heng each added one hit. Furr drove in the team’s only run, bringing home Bradi Gallaway in the fourth inning.
Pitcher Ruby Fidge took the loss after entering in the fifth and allowing two runs on four hits over one inning. Laney Johnson started for LA Tech, pitching four scoreless innings with four hits and three walks allowed. Bryannah Campos finished the game with a strong relief performance, giving up no runs and striking out three over two innings.
Kayla Giardina pitched a complete game for Southern Miss, striking out seven and walking just one batter.
LA Tech took a 1-0 lead in the fourth when Furr singled to drive in Gallaway, who had reached base on a walk and advanced on a single by Torres. Southern Miss tied it in the fifth using a double, sacrifice bunt, and single to score their first run. The Golden Eagles then took the lead in the sixth after back-to-back hits set up another RBI single.
After falling behind 2-1, Louisiana Tech managed just one base runner over the final two innings.
Head coach Josh Taylor commented on his team’s performance: “I saw our pitchers do their job, our defense do its job, and our hitters just not doing their job. If you are going to win at this level and if you are going to win championships this level, everybody has got to show up every day, and everybody has got to do their job. Tonight, our hitters did not show up. Five hits, we struck out seven times. Six of those strikeouts are from our three, four and five hitters…. the middle of our order…. just unacceptable. That was the message to them just now. We have to be more competitive.”
The Bulldogs remain ahead all-time against Southern Miss with a record of 37-19 and hold a 3-1 mark in one-run games this season. Torres registered her fifth multi-hit game of the year while Campos matched her career-high with three strikeouts during her fourth scoreless outing pitching two or more innings. Gallaway scored her tenth run of the season.
Louisiana Tech will face Southern Miss again tomorrow afternoon at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field with first pitch scheduled for 2:05 p.m., available via streaming on ESPN+.
