Softball: LA Tech swept on Senior Day

Seniors Honored in Final Home Game

RUSTON, La. – It wasn’t the weekend Louisiana Tech wanted on the field.

But following the Lady Techsters doubleheader sweep Saturday at the hands of North Texas, five special seniors were honored as a culmination to Senior Weekend in Ruston.

Tech fell 6-0 and 3-2 to North Texas as the Mean Green head into the C-USA Tournament as the No. 1 seed in the upcoming league championships in Bowling Green, Kentucky, starting on Wednesday. The Lady Techsters will also compete at the event with their seeding and opponent still up in the air with one day remaining in the regular season for a few of the C-USA teams.

Audrey Pickett, Bre Hernandez, Kara Goff, Madie Green and Zoe Hicks were honored during a postgame ceremony for their contributions to the Tech program. The group competed during a challenging time in the program’s history with the combination of no home field following the EF3 tornado, the obstacles of a COVID19 world and playing for three head coaches in three years.

However, the group will have one more opportunity to represent Louisiana Tech this week at the 2021 C-USA Championships.

Game 1: North Texas 6, LA Tech 0

Freshman Janie Worthington threw a complete-game no-hitter as the Mean Green defeated LA Tech in the first game of the day.

Worthington allowed just two base runners – a walk and a HBP – and was the benefactor of some nice defensive plays in the outfield as she improved to 9-0 on the season.

North Texas plated four runs on three hits and three walks in the top of the first inning against Tech starter Lauren Menzina (4-1). Junior Hannah Koenig came on in relief in the first and tossed 7.0 innings, allowing two runs on seven hits.

However, Tech could never mount a comeback as Worthington retired 21 of the 23 batters she faced in the game.

Game 2: North Texas 3, LA Tech 2

Tech had a pair of early one-run leads but a two-out, two-run hit following a controversial call at third base proved to be the difference in the game.

The Lady Techsters scored a run in the bottom of the first as Olivia Ellingson crossed home plate on a double steal attempt while Madie Green was caught in a rundown between first and second for the out.

After North Texas tied the game, Tech responded in the bottom of the second with a two-out RBI single through the left side by Ellingson.

The top of the fourth was the difference. With runners on first and second and one out, the Mean Green tried a double steal as Brooke Diaz appeared to throw out the runner at third base. However, the runners was ruled safe and one out later, a single to right centerfield with two outs plated both runs.

Ariel Thompson threw the final 5.0 innings for North Texas, retiring 15 of the 16 batters she faced and picking up the win.