MORGAN BERNARD
Managing Editor | mrb056@latech.edu
Junior pitcher Preslee Gallaway winds up for a fastball. – Photo by Donny Crowe
Louisiana Tech’s Lady Techsters dominated Utah State in a two game series April 27 and 28 at Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas.
For the first game, Tech (33-18) won with a score of 5-3 and brought in another victory against Utah State (17-29) in the second game with a final score of 2-0. These two wins helped the Lady Techsters in keeping their number one spot in the Conference USA standings.
At the beginning of the first game Friday, the Utah State Aggies took a 2-0 lead, but were quickly brought down by Tech when junior Morgan Turkoly hit a single, stole second base and advanced to third after another single by senior Katie Smith. Junior Jazlyn Crowder followed with a two-out single, bringing Smith into home plate and tying the game at 2-2.
In the fifth and sixth innings, the Aggies threatened to get ahead of the Lady Techsters, but were brought down both times by junior pitcher Preslee Gallaway. In the top of the fifth, Utah State’s Jazmin Clarke stole a third run for Utah due to an infield error by Tech. However, Gallaway managed a strikeout and a flyout, keeping another runner stranded on third.
In the top of the sixth, the Aggies had runners placed on second and third that were ready to score, but Gallaway struck out Clarke, keeping Tech in the lead. In the bottom of the sixth, redshirted senior Ali Galaz singled and moved to second after a walk for freshman Bayli Simon. Sophomore Marilyn Rizzato brought the two runners in with a bunt, scoring runs four and five for Tech.
For the final game of the series, Gallaway pitched 6.2 innings of shutout softball, bringing Tech to a 2-0 win against Utah State. The Lady Techsters swept the two-day series with this win, bringing them to 17 wins in their last 18 games.
Tech took the lead in the bottom of the second with a run stolen by Crowder after Utah State’s first baseman, Bailey Lewis, threw the ball away trying to get Crowder out on third. In the third inning, Tech managed another run, bringing the score to 2-0.
With two outs, freshman Sloane Stewartson singled and walks by Crowder and Galaz loaded the bases. Simon then hit a single that brought in pinch runner Kailey Anderson from third base.
Neither team scored runs the rest of the game, but Tech’s defense stayed strong, not allowing Utah State to score once. Only four baserunners got past Gallaway the entire game — three hits and one walk — while striking out eight batters.
Turkoly and Crowder were also impressive in the outfield as they helped Gallaway keep the Aggies under control. Turkoly made a diving grab in foul territory for the final out of the first inning. Crowder also made a great a catch, diving in centerfield and denying Utah State’s Bailee Trapp extra bases.
The Lady Techsters head back to Texas May 5 for a three-day series against UTEP in El Paso before making their way to the C-USA Tournament in Charlotte, North Carolina, May 9.