With help from the pitching of Krystal De La Cruz (27), Tech defeated Samford 9-3. De La Cruz, who followed starting pitcher Bailey Allen (26), retired 14 of the 15 batters she encountered during the game. – Photos courtesy of Darrell James
Alex Heard
Staff Reporter | amh072@latech.edu
Much like soldiers during the Civil War, the Louisiana Tech softball team held down the fort.
Tech defended their home turf and won all five games of the LA Tech Invitational. Teams like North Dakota, the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff and so on were unable to win a game in Ruston.
On Friday and Saturday, Tech won lopsided victories as its pitching shined.
The game against North Dakota was called off after 5 innings as Tech built a 10-2 lead.
Bailey Allen, a junior from Pineville, avoided trouble during the first two innings, stranding base-runners and avoiding any damage. Allen did not allow a run until the last inning.
Allen got the win, allowing two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out three.
Next, against Incarnate Word, Tech’s pitching was lights-out as neither team allowed a hit through the first four innings of the game.
Preslee Gallaway, a sophomore from Pilot Point, Texas, picked up where she left off last season and didn’t allow a hit until a bunt single with two outs in the top of the sixth inning, but she struck out the next batter to extinguish any scoring threat.
Gallaway went on to pitch a complete-game shutout, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out four.
Morgan Turkoly (21) slides for a base.
Tech won narrowly 1-0.
Saturday began similarly as Tech experienced déjà vu, as its pitching dominated vs. UAPB.
Krystal De La Cruz, a sophomore from Eagle Pass, Texas, got the nod to pitch for Tech and picked up the win. Cruz threw 4.0 innings while allowing one hit and no walks while striking out five.
Jenny Chapman, a freshman from Paducah, Kentucky, saw the first action of her collegiate career, allowing one hit in one inning.
The defense surrounding Tech’s pitchers did their part as Jazlyn Crowder, a sophomore from Kennedale, Texas, ended the game with diving, run-saving catch.
Saturday’s finale compared to Friday’s as Tech won a close call against Missouri State 5-4.
Tech ended its tournament Sunday against Samford, winning 9-3 to complete the weekend sweep.
Katie Smith, a junior from Bossier City, and De La Cruz were named Co-Most Valuable Players of the tournament while Morgan Turkoly, a sophomore from Sanger, Texas, and Gallaway also made the 13-person all-tournament team.