Louisiana Tech’s softball team ended the Mardi Gras Mambo tournament with a 7-4 victory over Georgia State on Sunday at the Youngsville Sports Complex. The Bulldogs finished the three-day event with three wins and two losses, improving their season record to 8-2.
LA Tech scored five of its runs through home runs by Reagan Marchant and Reese Torres. Marchant hit a three-run homer, while Torres contributed a two-run shot. Allie Furr had two hits and drove in one run, and Elena Heng also recorded two hits. Bradi Gallaway added a hit and an RBI, while Cali Bennett, Aleah Brooks, and Jina Baffuto each had one hit.
Pitcher Ruby Fidge earned the win after pitching five innings and allowing only one unearned run on five hits, striking out three batters in relief. Bryannah Campos pitched the final two innings, giving up one run on three hits. Starter Ryleigh Shull allowed two runs on two hits with two walks.
Georgia State took an early 2-0 lead in the first inning. LA Tech responded in the third inning with seven runs on six hits, highlighted by Marchant’s home run and Torres’ homer to left-center field.
The Panthers scored additional runs in the fourth and seventh innings but could not overcome LA Tech’s lead.
Head coach Josh Taylor commented on his team’s performance: “This week we had many challenges. There were times that our offense was explosive, and there were times that we fell short of our offensive capabilities. Reagan Marchant, Reese Torres, Aleah Brooks, and Bradi Gallaway were able to start and become the run producers we know they are, and our speed players found a way to consistently set the table for them. We played very well defensively all week and will look for that to continue.”
Regarding his pitchers’ efforts during the tournament, Taylor said: “Our pitching was really strong at times, led by Allie Floyd and Laney Johnson. We still need to find consistency with how we attack hitters and get ahead in counts. Ruby Fidge was fantastic on Sunday, getting out of a tough situation in the first inning and giving up no earned runs through five innings of work. Overall, there is much room for improvement, but I feel we are just getting started with how good this ball club can be.”
With this win:
– Louisiana Tech now holds a 10-5 all-time record in Mardi Gras Mambo games.
– The team remains undefeated against Georgia State at 9-0.
– The Bulldogs have achieved 10 or more hits in four games this season.
– This marks their second consecutive game with multiple home runs.
– Reagan Marchant tied for ninth place in program history for career home runs (21), matching current assistant coach Madie Green.
– Marchant also registered her 21st career multi-RBI game.
– Reese Torres hit her 13th career home run—her second as a Bulldog.
– Ruby Fidge earned her first NCAA Division I win as a pitcher.
– Elena Heng posted her fourth multi-hit game this season (23rd career).
– Allie Furr reached her tenth career multi-hit game.
The Bulldogs’ next game is scheduled for Tuesday at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field against Northwestern State; first pitch is set for 6:00 p.m., with streaming available on ESPN+.
