LA Tech picked preseason softball favorite in C-USA

RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech missed winning the program’s first regular season conference title by less than a full game last year, as a tough three-game sweep at the hands of UTEP in the final weekend ultimately cost the Lady Techsters.

According to the Conference USA coaches, this year the Lady Techsters are the favorite to accomplish what they fell just short of last year.

Head coach Mark Montgomery and Co. were tabbed the C-USA favorites by a vote of the 12 league coaches as the Lady Techsters picked up nine first place votes in the preseason coaches’ poll released Friday.

“It’s a nice honor to know what the rest of the league thinks of you, but we know this is a preseason honor,” said Montgomery. “We want to be talked about as being the best team in this league at the end of the year. That’s when it matters.

“This group is hungry. The returners know how close we came last year, and I think that has really fueled them during the offseason. Our coaching staff likes what we have seen in the fall and winter, but we know what really counts is what we do over the next four months. We are excited to get started in a few weeks.”

Reigning Conference USA Player of the Year Morgan Turkoly and Pitcher of the Year Preslee Gallaway were both selected to repeat with those honors. Turkoly and Gallaway joined teammates Marilyn Rizzato (catcher) and Sloane Stewartson (DP/UT) on the preseason all-conference team.

Tech had the most preseason all-conference selections with four followed by North Texas (3), Middle Tennessee (2) and Florida Atlantic (2). UAB, Southern Miss, UTSA, FIU and Marshall each had one player selected to the preseason all-conference team.

Tech edged Florida Atlantic as the Owls picked up the remaining three first place votes. UAB, North Texas, FIU, Middle Tennessee, WKU, Marshall, Southern Miss, UTEP, Charlotte and UTSA.

Turkoly enters her senior season as a 3-time all-conference selection. The Sanger, Texas, native batted .409 with 65 hits in 159 at bats last year while totaling 13 doubles, one triple and four home runs. She scored 46 runs and drove in 26 and was 18-for-22 in stolen bases.

“We know what it takes and what we have to do to reach our goals, and we have the leadership and experience to accomplish big things,” said Turkoly. “Last year we were so close and didn’t finish. It just makes us want it that much more this season. With the returners and the new talent we have added to the team, we are working hard and ready to take this team to the next level.”

She ended the season with a program record 43-game reach base safely streak, third longest in the country, and became just the third player in program history to hit over .400 in a season. Turkoly ranked in the Top 20 in the nation in on-base percentage and Top 35 in walks per game. Her walk to strikeout radio (41/11) was the best in C-USA.

Gallaway embarks on her final season in Ruston as a two-time all-conference honoree. She became the first Lady Techster to ever earn the conference Pitcher of the Year award as a junior when she posted an 18-8 record with a 2.43 earned run average.

“We used our disappointment as the fuel to work even harder,” said Gallaway. “We aren’t looking back. We’re only going forward. We have added some talented new teammates that we are excited about. We will all support each other to be better every day. Our goal is to find a way.”

The Pilot Point, Texas, native made 40 appearances in the circle, including 25 starts, working 173.0 innings and allowing 157 hits and just 51 walks. She struck out 144 batters. Gallaway registered wins over Top 25 foes Texas State and James Madison while tying her career-high with 12 strikeouts in a league win over UTSA.

Rizzato developed a reputation as one of the top defensive catchers in the country last year and was named second team all-conference. While making 52 starts for Tech, the Forney, Texas, native threw out an incredible 14 of 24 base runners while adding five pickoffs. She batted .273 with 33 hits, including seven doubles and one triple.

Stewartson earned C-USA all-freshman team honors and all-tournament team accolades last year. She batted .359 with 42 hits, including four doubles and five home runs during her rookie season. The Castle Pines, Colorado, native recorded 29 RBI while making 46 starts for the Lady Techsters.

2019 Conference USA Preseason Poll (first-place votes)

LA Tech (9)

Florida Atlantic (3)

UAB

North Texas

FIU

Middle Tennessee

WKU

Marshall

Southern Miss

UTEP

Charlotte

UTSA

2019 Preseason Player of the Year

Morgan Turkoly, Louisiana Tech

2019 Preseason Pitcher of the Year

Preslee Gallaway, Louisiana Tech

2019 Preseason All-Conference Team

P: Preslee Gallaway, Louisiana Tech

P: Hope Trautwein, North Texas

P: Mia Olson, Florida Atlantic

C: Marilyn Rizzato, Louisiana Tech

C: Samantha Papp, Southern Miss

INF: Aly Harrell, Marshall

INF: Natalie Erwin, UAB

INF: Lacy Gregory, North Texas

INF: Summer Burgess, Middle Tennessee

INF: Lexi Cushing, Middle Tennessee

OF: Morgan Turkoly, Louisiana Tech

OF: Bailee Baldwin, UTSA

OF: Madisyn Palmer, Florida Atlantic

OF: Jackie Schoff, FIU

OF: Katie Clark, North Texas

UT/DP: Sloane Stewartson, Louisiana Tech