Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. - A two-run home run in the bottom of the fifth inning sent Mississippi State to a 6-4 win over Louisiana Tech in the first game of the February Freezer hosted by the Bulldogs in Starkville.

"Our goal is to keep getting better," said head coach Mark Montgomery. "We made some strides tonight. We threw out a couple of base runners and did some other nice things. Now we just have to start stringing some hits together. I feel really good about where we were at late in the game. We made a mistake in the sixth, and she hit it out for the two-run home run. We are just going to keep working."

Tech (3-4) trailed early in the game, falling behind 4-0 after Mississippi State (6-0) plated two runs in each of the second and third innings against Lady Techster starter Bianca Duran.

However, the Lady Techsters rallied. In the top of the fourth inning, junior catcher Krysta Tutsch launched a solo home run deep over the centerfield fence for the first run of the game. It was Tutsch's second home run of the season.

Tech then tied the game in the top of the fifth inning. Karlee Jensen singled and Anna Cross doubled down the left field line to put runners on first and second. Pinch hitter Taylor Brintzenhoff was then hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Pauline Tufi then drove in a run after being hit a pitch, cutting the deficit to 4-2. Kassie Harris then followed with an RBI fielder's choice ground out, scoring Cross from third base. With two outs and runners on the corner, Tori Charters scored the tying run on a successful double steal attempt.

The tie game was short-lived though. In the bottom of the fifth, Caroline Seitz hit her 11th career home run with a two outs as the Bulldogs regained the lead at 6-4.

In the top of the sixth, Janine Godwin singled and Katie Smith doubled down the left field line to put runners on second and third with one out. However, Mississippi State got out of the jam to presever the win.

Duran (2-4) took the loss, allowing five runs on seven hits and one walk in 4.1 innings while Tufi pitched 1.2 innings allowing two hits and one run.

Offensively, Tech was led by Cross (1-4, 1 run), Charters (1-3, 1 run), Tufi (1 RBI), Harris (1 RBI), Tutsch (1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI), Godwin (2-3), Smith (1-3) and Jensen (2-3, 1 run, 1 SB).

The Lady Techsters return to action Friday with a 10 a.m. game against Lamar.