2024 LOUISIANA TECH SOFTBALL GAME NOTES Softball Contact: Hunter Corneliusen | hunter@latech.edu | (913) 689-8407
GAMes
LA Tech vs. Saint Louis | Feb. 10-11 | Dr. Billy Bundrick Field |Ruston, La. Louisiana Tech vs. 2023 Record: 32-24 CUSA: 13-11 |H: 16-9 |A: 9-10 | N: 7-4
1-3
SAINT LOUIS 2023 Record: 30-25 A10: 20-5 |H: 17-7 |A: 8-10 |N: 5-8
LA Tech Sports Network| PxP - Malcolm Butler
DATE F10 F10 F11 F12 F14 F16 F16 F17 F17 F20 F23 F24 F24 F25 F28 M1 M2 M2 M3 M3 M5 M8 M9 M10 M12 M15 M16 M17 M20 M22 M23 M24 M26 M28 M29 M30 A5 A6 A7 A9 A9 A12 A13 A14 A16 A19 A20 A21 A26 A27 A28 A30 M3 M4 M5 M8-10
BULLDOGS AT A GLANCE...
BILLIKENS AT A GLANCE...
HEAD COACH : Josh Taylor | Record: 304-212 (11) | LA TECH Record: 71-44 (2)
HEAD COACH : Christy Connoyer | Record: 353-358 (14) | SLU Record: 322-328 (13)
.251
241
366
531
77-86
2.38
.244
.285
292
416
635
52-61
3.29
.272
AVG.
Runs
Hits
TB
SB-ATT
ERA
Opp. AVG
AVG.
Runs
Hits
TB
SB-ATT
ERA
Opp. AVG
2024 SCHEDULE
OPPONENT
LOCATION
Result/Time
Saint Louis Ruston, La. Noon Saint Louis Ruston, La. 2 p.m. Saint Louis Ruston, La. 11 a.m. Texas A&M Corpus Christi Ruston, La. 6 p.m. Southeastern Ruston, La. 6 p.m. vs. Lindenwood^ Monroe, La. 11 a.m. at ULM ^ Monroe, La. 5 p.m. vs. Lindenwood ^ Monroe, La. 11 a.m. at ULM^ Monroe, La. 2 p.m. at UL-Lafayette Lafayette, La. 6 p.m. Missouri State Ruston, La. 6 p.m. Missouri State Ruston, La. 1 p.m. Missouri State Ruston, La. 3:30 p.m. Missouri State Ruston, La. 11 a.m. at Central Arkansas Conway, Ark. 5 p.m. vs. Illinois% Baton Rouge, La. 11 a.m. vs. Illinois% Baton Rouge, La. 9:30 a.m. vs. San Diego State% Baton Rouge, La. 2:30 p.m. vs. McNeese% Baton Rouge, La. 12:30 p.m. at LSU% Baton Rouge, La. 5:30 p.m. at McNeese Lake Charles, La. 6 p.m. Sam Houston* Ruston, La. 6 p.m. Sam Houston* Ruston, La. 2 p.m. Sam Houston* Ruston, La. 1 p.m. Northwestern State Ruston, La. 6 p.m. at Middle Tennessee* Murfreesboro, Tenn. 6 p.m. at Middle Tennessee* Murfreesboro, Tenn. 4 p.m. at Middle Tennessee* Murfreesboro, Tenn. Noon UL-Lafayette Ruston, La. 6 p.m. WKU* Ruston, La. 6 p.m. WKU* Ruston, La. 2 p.m. WKU* Ruston, La. 1 p.m. Grambling State Ruston, La. 6 p.m. at Liberty* Lynchburg, Va. 6 p.m. at Liberty* Lynchburg, Va. 4 p.m. at Liberty* Lynchburg, Va. Noon at Auburn# Auburn, Ala. 2 p.m. vs. Georgia Tech# Auburn, Ala. 10 a.m. vs. Georgia Tech# Auburn, Ala. 1 p.m. Ole Miss Ruston, La. 4 p.m. Ole Miss Ruston, La. 6:30 p.m. at Jacksonville State* Jacksonville, Ala. 6 p.m. at Jacksonville State* Jacksonville, Ala. 1 p.m. at Jacksonville State* Jacksonville, Ala. 1 p.m. at Northwestern State Natchitoches, La. 6 p.m. UTEP* Ruston, La. 6 p.m. UTEP* Ruston, La. 2 p.m. UTEP* Ruston, La. Noon at New Mexico State* Las Cruces, N.M. 7 p.m. at New Mexico State* Las Cruces, N.M. 5 p.m. at New Mexico State* Las Cruces, N.M. 1 p.m. McNeese Ruston, La. 6 p.m. FIU* Ruston, La. 6 p.m. FIU* Ruston, La. 2 p.m. FIU* Ruston, La. 1 p.m. CUSA Chmapionships” Las Cruces, N.M. TBA
^ Best on the Bayou | % Purple and Gold Challenge | #Auburn Tournament | * CUSA Game | “ CUSA Championships Home Games and Tournaments in BOLD | All Times Central
LEADING OFF
Louisiana Tech finished last season with a 32-24 record, including a 13-11 mark in Conference USA play. It marked the 26th season in program history with 30 or more wins. >> This weekend’s season opener will be just the 11th in Ruston since the program’s inception in 1980. >> Louisiana Tech posted a team ERA of 2.38 in 391.1 innings pitched in 2023. The ERA was the best team ERA by a Tech pitching staff since 2002 when they finished the year with a 1.99 mark. >> The Bulldogs return 322 of their 391.1 innings pitched last season. Highlighted by Conference USA Freshman of the Year Allie Floyd who posted a 2.57 ERA in a team-high 128 innings pitched. Redshirt junior Brook Melnychuk also headlines the LA Tech staff after posting a team-best 2.04 ERA in 2023. >> Kylie Neel was the Bulldogs’ biggest threat at the plate with a .351 batting average, 53 hits, 45 RBI, five home runs, 11 doubles and 81 total bases in 2023. She carries a 24-game reached base streak into the season. >> Head Coach Josh Taylor and staff added four transfers this offseason: Alexis Gilio (BYU), Nicole Hammoude (Cal), Claire Raley (Utah State) and Aubree Seaney (Oregon State/Tulsa). >> Floyd, Neel and Raley were named Preseason All-CUSA in a vote by the league’s coaches on Jan. 25, 2024. The three preseason selections were the most for LA Tech since 2019. >> Defensively, LA Tech was among the national leaders in double plays per game with 0.5 per contest a year ago. Second baseman Caroline Easom returns in 2024 after being a part of 12 double plays a year ago. >> Tech has All-CUSA selections returning, in Freshman of the Year Allie Floyd, and second-team selection Kylie Neel. >> LA Tech was one of just seven Division I schools to start classes on Jan 3. Tech is one of 14 Division I softball schools that are on a quarter system. >> Louisiana Tech was 23-3 when outhitting opponents last season. >> LA Tech is led by head coach Josh Taylor who is 71-44 in two seasons at Tech and 304-212 in his career, with prior stops at Nevada (2017-2021) and Feather River College (2009-2012). Taylor’s 71 wins through the first two seasons of his tenure are the most by a LA Tech head coach since NFCA Hall of Famer Bill Galloway posted 73 wins in the 1982-83 seasons. >>
LEADERS KYLIE NEEL | 32
BULLDOGS
BATTING AVG. | TOTAL BASES | RBI
ALLIE FLOYD | 00
INNINGS | STRIKEOUTS | WHIP | WINS
.351 | 81 | 45
128 | 46 | 1.09 | 8
KATELIN COOPER | 17 HOME RUNS | STOLEN BASES
BROOK MELNYCHUK | 19 COMPLETE GAMES
9 | 10
BY THE NUMBERS
6
Katelin Cooper was granted a sixthyear of eligibility entering the 2024 season. She is currently pursuing her doctorate.
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3
24
Kylie Neel is on a 24-game reached base streak.
2
LA Tech and Mount St. Mary’s are the only two programs to rank in the top-ten nationally in double plays per game in 2022 and 2023.