Boxscore I Boxscore II

RUSTON - Louisiana Tech opened its Western Athletic Conference season with a pair of losses to UTEP Friday night as the Lady Techsters fell 3-2 and 3-0.

Tech (16-24, 0-2) has dropped seven straight games with its last win coming March 20.

The Lady Techsters took a 1-0 lead in game No. 1 in the bottom of the first inning when senior Amber Miles scored from first base on a double by shortstop Jessica Elson.

UTEP (14-22, 2-0) answered with two runs in the fourth and one more in the fifth to take a 3-1 lead. Tech cut the advantage to 3-2 in the bottom of the fifth inning when Miles scored from third base on an infield pop up.

Louisiana Tech had runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings but couldn't plate the tying run.

Freshman Rochelle Sandberg recorded two hits for Tech while Miles, Elson and Brittany Welch added one apiece.

Lindsey Meadows (12-16) picked up the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits and four walks in the complete game loss.

UTEP jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the top of the first inning of game two and coasted to the victory. The Miners scored three runs off Techster starter Lesley Aycock on three hits and one Tech error with the big play being a sacrifice fly to centerfield that plated two runs, one coming on an error.

Although Tech managed only four hits in the game, the Techsters loaded the bases in the second inning with only one out but couldn't score.

Sandberg, Regan Clark, Welch and Meadows each registered a hit in the contest. Aycock (3-4) picked up the loss, allowing all three Miner runs in her one inning of work.

Kristin Rupp and Meadows came on in relief and allowed only five hits and no runs over the final six innings.

The two teams will wrap up the three-game series Saturday at 2 p.m.