MONROE, La. ? Senior
Shanna Swillie came in relief to shut down Louisiana Tech, but a three-run
offensive outburst to open the game proved to be too much for the Warhawk
softball team in a 3-0 loss at the ULM Softball Complex on Tuesday night.
Louisiana
Tech (30-26) secured their first winning season since 1999 after sweeping the
five-game regular season series against ULM
(18-34).
Swillie
(ND) came on in relief of Warhawk starter Heather Fritz (L, 3-5) in the second
inning and scattered six hits and five walks through six innings to give ULM a chance. The damage
had already been done and the Warhawks were unable to overcome the early scores
The Lady
Techsters got the offense rolling early with a pair of runs in the first frame
for a 2-0 lead. A lead off single by Emma Barnes and a sacrifice bunt put LT in
business and set the stage for a one-out RBI single by Amberly Waits. After
Waits was caught stealing, Kylie Bassett tripled before coming home on an RBI
single by Krissi Oliver.
In the
second inning, Megan Granger reached on a fielding error before advancing to
second on a throwing error. The LT base runner advanced to third on a base hit
to center before scoring on a single by Heather Doiron to chase Fritz.
Louisiana
Tech stranded 12 base runners ? including seven in scoring position ? and had
three thrown out at the plate on balls hit to the ULM outfielders.
Oliver (W,
15-13) earned the complete game victory after scattering three hits and fanning
six on an economical 81 pitches.
The
Warhawks will look to get back on track and finish the season strong when it
travels to Lafayette, La. to face league-leading
Louisiana-Lafayette in the regular season finale starting with a doubleheader
on Saturday at 1 p.m.
