RUSTON, La. – The ULM softball team (7-5) dropped in an 11-inning thriller to Louisiana Tech (10-2), 3-2, in Ruston on Thursday night (Feb. 19). While the Warhawk defense was able to hold off a score in nine of the 11 innings, it only took three runs for the Bulldogs to come out on top.
Two strikeouts by
Dakota Lake in the bottom of the first kept the game scoreless in the first inning. Even as the Bulldogs picked up their first hit in the second, ULM was able to prevent a run scored. After a third scoreless inning for the Warhawks and a Louisiana Tech single, a double play prevented the score again. Another stellar defensive play from
Hollie Thomas at third base in the fourth had ULM entering the fifth tied at 0.
A walk and a single from
Elle Carter in the top of the fifth allowed
Reece Briggs to score two in her outing as a pinch hitter. After a three-up, three-down inning for Louisiana Tech, ULM entered the sixth inning with the 2-0 advantage. But the Bulldogs responded in the sixth as a double and a single placed two on bags as Alannah Rogers singled to score two and knot up the game again.
Even as chances were created for both teams, extra innings were forced. Multiple strikeouts, ground-outs and hits were recorded as neither team was able to convert a game-winner. In the 11
th inning, with two outs recorded, Bradi Gallaway hit a home run to walk things off, 3-2.
Carter and
Carys Platt both claimed multi-hit games as Briggs picked up a two-RBI game with her single. 14 putouts from Zenzen ties her career high and leads the team on the defensive end.
Ashanti McDade is credited with the close, striking out two batters and allowing one run in 5.1 innings in the circle.
Dakota Lake also struck out two in her three-inning venture.
Skylar Waggoner also saw time in the circle, claiming a strikeout in 2.1 innings.
The ULM softball team will next prepare for a weekend at home, hosting the Best on the Bayou Tournament from February 20 to 22. The Warhawks will first face UNI on Friday at 5 p.m. CT at the ULM Softball Complex.