LA Tech splits Friday softball action
COLLEGE STATION, Texas – Bre Hernandez worked overtime in the circle and Louisiana Tech came from behind four times as the Lady Techsters defeated Montana 6-5 in 13 innings Friday afternoon at Davis Diamond.
Tech fell 10-6 in the second game of the day to the host Texas A&M Aggies.
Game 1: LA Tech 6, Montana 5 (13 innings)
Tristin Court’s RBI single to right field plated the game-winning run in the bottom of the 13th inning as Louisiana Tech defeated Montana 6-5 Friday afternoon at the Davis Diamond Classic.
Tech (5-9) trailed 2-0, 3-2, 4-3 and 5-4 during the marathon contest but answered each and every time in picking up the win in the first game of the day.
Bre Hernandez (2-3) recorded the longest outing of her collegiate career in picking up the victory, working 11.0 innings while allowing three runs – zero earned – on just three hits and three walks while striking out two.
With Tech trailing 2-1 after two innings, Hernandez came on in relief of Tech starter Lauren Menzina and was in complete control of the game. The only runs she allowed came via the International Tiebreaker rule and were unearned.
Trailing 2-0, KB Briley drove home Court with an RBI single in the bottom of the second and then Court drove home Kara Goff with a bunt single in the fourth to tie the game at 2-2.
The score remained 2-2 until the top of the 10th inning when Montana plated an unearned run as the teams began utilizing the ITB. Tech tied the game at 3 on an RBI single by Caroline Easom in the bottom of the 10th.
Trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the 11th, Tech once again tied the game on an RBI sacrifice fly by Briley, scoring Court. In the bottom of the 12th, the Lady Techsters trailed 5-4 when Jordyn Manning scored on an RBI sacrifice bunt by Bailey Wright.
After Montana failed to score in the top of the 13th, Tech ended the game with Court’s 1-out RBI single in the bottom half of the frame.
Goff (3-5, run), Court (2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Zoe Hicks (2-3), Olivia Ellingson (1-5), Easom (1-6, run, RBI), Briley (1-4, 2 RBI), Wright (run), Kyle Neel (1-1), and Manning (1-4, run, RBI) led LA Tech offensively.
Game 2: Texas A&M 10, LA Tech 6
Louisiana Tech had the host team on the ropes but the Aggies (15-3) responded with a seven-run fifth inning to come-from-behind with the 10-6 win.
Tech trailed 2-0 after the first inning but used a two-out rally in the top of the second inning to tie the game. The Lady Techsters loaded the bases with two outs and Tanjala Smith singled, scoring both KB Briley and Zoe Hicks on the play.
The game remained tied until the top of the fifth inning when Tech scored four runs on six hits. Kara Goff recorded an RBI on a ground out and Caroline Easom singled down the right field line to plate a second run. Hicks then singled up the middle to plate two more as Tech led 6-2.
The lead was short-lived as Texas A&M exploded for seven runs on four hits to regain a 9-6 advantage. The Aggies would add a run in the sixth before closing it out.
Audrey Pickett (0-4) took the loss, allowing 10 runs on nine hits and six walks while striking out three.
Tech will return to action Saturday when it faces Montana at 12:30 and Texas A&M at 3 p.m. (SEC Network+).
Malcolm Butler
