RUSTON, La. – The ULM softball team dropped a 4-2 contest versus Louisiana Tech Thursday night inside Lady Techster Softball Complex.
Junior Melanie Coyne (15-17) helped her own cause in the top of the first inning, ripping a two-out RBI double to right-center which put the Warhawks (21-26) ahead 1-0. The Lady Techsters (24-16) quickly responded in the bottom half, hitting a two-out RBI single and two-run homer to take a 3-1 advantage.
Katie Smith then hit an RBI double down the left-field line to the fence which padded on to the lead at 4-1. Karl Jensen followed that up with another hit to left field, but freshman Sydney McKay threw out Smith at the plate to end the barrage.
LA Tech looked to score again in the second after loading the bases with one out. Coyne, however, kept her composure and got next two batters out via flyout and strikeout to keep the score at 4-1. She also stranded a runner in scoring position in the third, fourth and sixth innings and retired the Lady Techsters in order in the fifth.
Coyne was handed the loss despite finishing the game on five straight scoreless frames.
ULM's offense struggled to string hits together as the only other hits besides Coyne's double were singles by freshmen Sydney McKay and Megan Shaw and a pinch-hit solo homerun from junior Vanessa Garcia.
The Warhawks will take the weekend off and return to action Tuesday, hosting a doubleheader against Arkansas-Pine Bluff.
For updates on the softball squad, be sure to follow the team on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
