Nevada softball sweeps Louisiana Tech
Appeal Staff Report
The Nevada softball team swept Louisiana Tech 8-7 and 12-2 in a doubleheader Friday at Hixson Park.
Nevada, which is ranked No. 18, No. 20 and No. 25 in three national polls, improved to 12-2 in the Western Athletic Conference and 34-14 overall in maintaining its grip on first place.
The Lady Techsters slipped to 7-9, 29-25.
In game one Vanessa Briones hit a home run and Kelsey Starr went 3-for-3, with a three-run homer and five RBI to lead the Wolf Pack.
Kate Holverson added a complete-game effort to improve to 17-5 on the season and 7-0 in the WAC. She gave up seven runs (two earned), walked one and struck out eight.
Nevada, which has now won six consecutive games, had 14 hits in the opener.
The Wolf Pack added 16 hits in the nightcap, which was stopped after five innings because of the 10-run mercy rule.
Briones, now batting .486, added another round-tripper. Douglas High School graduate Brittany Puzey, Sam Bias and Danielle Patrick also went yard for Nevada.
Starter Jordan McPherson improved to 12-9 on the year, striking out eight and walking one.
Noelle Micka, Puzey, Briones and Britton Murdock - the Pack's first four hitters - went a combined 9-for-13 with seven RBI and eight runs in game two.
Nevada and Louisiana Tech conclude their three-game set today at Hixson Park.
Nevada will honor its five seniors before the game, which begins at 2 p.m.