https://lincolnparishjournal.com/202...enior-weekend/

Bulldog softball hosts FIU for Senior Weekend

May 3, 2024 /

Caroline Easom Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications



The Louisiana Tech Softball team finishes the regular season this weekend as the Bulldogs host FIU for a three-game series at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.


Tonight’s first pitch is slated for 6 p.m. while Saturday is 2 p.m. and Sunday is 12 p.m. All three games can be seen on ESPN+.


Following the conclusion of Sunday’s game Louisiana Tech will honor its 10-member senior class of KB Briley, Katelin Cooper, Brooke Diaz, Caroline Easom, Olivia Ellingson, Emma Hutchinson, Jordyn Manning, Lauren Menzina, Kylie Neel and Gentry Spinks.


The Bulldogs enter the final weekend of the regular season, tied with New Mexico State in third place of the Conference USA standings with a league record of 12-9. However, the Bulldogs own the tiebreaker over the Aggies with a 2-1 series win at New Mexico State last weekend.


Both teams are two games back of second-place WKU, who sits at 14-7. The Bulldogs also earned a series victory over WKU earlier this season. The top two seeds receive a first-round bye in the newly restructured six-team double-elimination CUSA Tournament.


Louisiana Tech is 30-18 this season and coming off an exciting 4-0 win over McNeese on April 30 in Ruston. The win marked the Bulldogs’ third this season over the Cowgirls.


With the win over McNeese, Louisiana Tech has reached 30 or more wins in all three seasons of head coach Josh Taylor‘s tenure. It also marked the 26th season in which LA Tech has tallied 30 or more wins.


Allie Floyd and Brook Melnychuk are the first LA Tech duo to record 10+ wins in a season since Krystal De La Cruz (17-3) and Preslee Gallaway (19-10) accomplished the feat in 2019.


FIU is 19-28 this season and 6-15 in league play. The Panthers dropped their series against Sam Houston last weekend 2-1. FIU won game two of the series 6-4 but fell in the series opener and finale, 4-3 and 8-5.


FIU Pitching Coach Mike Forsythe spent three seasons at Louisiana Tech (2017-19). During his time at Louisiana Tech, Forsythe played a big part in helping three LA Tech pitchers earn First-Team All-Conference USA honors.


The Bulldogs and Panthers will be meeting for the 20th, 21st and 22nd times this weekend. FIU leads the all-time series 11-8. The Bulldogs earned a series victory over the Panthers last season by taking two of three in Miami.