Boxscore

RUSTON - Jamie Southern recorded 13 strikeouts and scattered three hits to lead No. 18 ranked Fresno State to a 6-0 win over Louisiana Tech Friday afternoon at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.

Southern (20-3) allowed two infield singles and one single to right field while helping the Bulldogs (33-10) improve to 9-1 in the Western Athletic Conference.

Louisiana Tech (18-41, 2-8 WAC) proved to be its own worst enemy in the first inning allowing four runs on six hits although the Lady Techsters had opportunities to get out of the first frame unscathed.

Three infield singles - two of which should have been recorded for outs - allowed Fresno State to load the bases with two outs before Kristin Sylvester lined a two-run double off the left field wall, giving the Bulldogs a 2-0 advantage. Twyla Coffman and Jenna Cervantez followed with RBI singles as Fresno State scored four runs in the top of the first.

With the All-American Southern on the mound, the four-run first was simply too much for Tech to overcome. Amber Miles singled to lead the game off for Tech and stole second base but Southern retired the next three Tech batters.

Regan Clark singled to lead the second off for Tech but couldn't advance past second base as Southern once again shut down the Lady Techster attack.

Tech best chance to score came in the bottom of the sixth inning when Brittany Stanley advanced to second on an error by the first baseman. With two outs Stanley stole third base. Clark appeared to have singled Stanley home but was thrown out on a spectacular play by Cervantez, who went deep into the hole at second to field the grounder and threw off-balance to retire the runner.

Kristin Rupp (2-8) picked up the loss for Tech, allowing six earned runs on 13 hits and one walk in the complete-game performance.

Louisiana Tech will close out the home portion of its 2005 schedule Saturday when they host Fresno State in a 2 p.m. doubleheader. Following the final game Saturday, Tech seniors Leah Beasley, Lindsey Meadows, Amber Miles, Ashley Palma and Brittany Stanley will be honored.