Boxscore

WACO, Texas - For the second time in as many weekends, Louisiana Tech's softball team played toe-to-toe with one of the nation's top teams before the Lady Techsters fell 1-0 in nine innings to No. 11 ranked Tennessee Saturday in the single elimination round of the Compass Bank Invitational hosted by Baylor.

The Techsters (9-11), who fell 2-0 to Baylor Saturday morning and also defeated Lipscomb 8-2 Saturday evening in the consolation game, played one of their best games of the season before falling to the Lady Vols (18-3).

With the score tied up 0-0 in the bottom of the ninth, Tennessee freshman Ashley Cline ripped a one-out double to score Brittany Bessho with the lone run of the contest. With Bessho placed on second base during the international tie-breaker rule, Cline poked Tech senior pitcher Marla Pinkston's initial offering into right center field for the winning RBI.

Pinkston picked up the loss despite pitching brilliantly, logging 8.1 innings of work while allowing only three hits, one walk and the one run while also striking out seven Lady Vols batters.

"Marla pitched much better today than yesterday because she had much better control of her pitches," said Tech coach Sarah Dawson. "She worked ahead in the count a lot and I don't think Tennessee was as patient today. Marla gave her defense balls they could handle and they played flawless defense behind her."

Tennessee ace Monica Abbott (17-0) kept her perfect record with the win in relief as Tech registered five hits in the contest, including two each by Amber Miles and Brittany Stanley.

"Offensively, we have to get better," Dawson said. "Anytime you go up against this type of competition they will expose your weaknesses and right now ours is our hitting. We have much better hitters than we showed this weekend."

In the consolation game, Tech scored five runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to blow open a close game and record its second win over Lipscomb in the tournament. The Lady Techsters used 10 hits to plate their eight runs, including two hits each from Miles, Mary Cohn, Jen LaRussa and Aimee Coleman.

Bridgette Broadnax also registered an inside-the-park home run for Tech in the bottom of the sixth inning while Broadnax, Casey Reiff and Coleman each drove in two runs in the game.

Pinkston (5-8) earned the win with three innings of work, allowing four hits, two walks and one unearned run. Freshman hurler Kristin Blodgette earned her first career save, pitching the final four innings, allowing only one hit and one run while striking out two Lipscomb batters.

"Kristin did a good job of keeping the balls on the ground and that is what she has to do to be successful," Dawson said.

In the first game of the day, Tech fell to Baylor 2-0 as the Lady Techsters only mustered two hits, one each by Stanley and Alison White.

Rupp was the hardluck loser for Tech, pitching six innings while allowing six hits, two walks and the two earned runs. Baylor scored one run in the bottom half of the fifth and sixth innings for the win.