RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech jumped out to an early lead and never looked back Sunday as it topped ACU softball 7-4 in the final game of the tournament. The Wildcats scored a couple runs in the fifth and added two more in the seventh, but left the tying run at the plate when the game ended. The Lady Techsters improved to 9-1 while ACU dropped to 3-6 on the year.
A three-run first frame got the home team going against Wildcat starter
Samantha Bradley (1-4), who lasted three innings, allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits. A throwing error and back-to-back singles scored the first-inning runs, and a double down the left-field line in the second made it 4-0. Two in the third and one in the fourth put the game out of reach at 7-0 heading to the fifth.
ACU recorded six hits in the first four innings, but left eight runners on base include a pair of bases-loaded opportunities. LA Tech took advantage of their base runners, and built a big lead. The 'Cats would get on the board in the fifth when juniors
Blair Clayton and
Linsey Tomlinson roped back-to-back doubles to plate a pair. Trailing 7-2 heading to the seventh, ACU had one final chance.
Bradley led the inning off with a single, and after back-to-back outs, the offense mounted a rally. Clayton singled and Tomlinson reached on an error to load the bases. After a wild pitch pushed a run across, freshman
Kaitlyn Huseman singled to center to plate another. Trailing 7-4,
Tori Poullard flew out to center to end the rally. LA Tech held on with the tying run at the plate.
Calie Burris entered in the fourth inning, allowing a run on two hits in three frames of relief work. Preslee Gallaway earned the win, pitching the complete game for the Lady Techsters.
Bradley, Burris, Clayton, Tomlinson, and Huseman all tallied two each to lead the Wildcats.
ACU will be back on the diamond next weekend in Arlington for the Maverick Invitational. The five games span over three days from Friday to Sunday, Feb. 22-24. The Wildcats will play Prairie View A&M twice, UTA twice, and Wichita State once.
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