Box Score

STARKVILLE, Miss. - Bianca Duran and Pauline Tufi hit home runs and Louisiana Tech scored seven runs in the top of the seventh with two outs to record a dramatic 13-11 win over Lamar in eight innings in the second day of the February Freezer hosted by Mississippi State.

Tech (4-4) trailed 7-4 heading into the top of the seventh inning before playing seven runs with two outs, including a grand slam home run by Duran, to take a 11-7 lead.

However, Lamar (3-3) then plated four runs in the bottom of the seventh to send the game into extra innings tied at 11-11.

In the eighth inning, Tufi came through in the clutch, recording a two-out, two-run single to give the Lady Techsters a 13-11 advantage. Tufi then retired three straight batters in the bottom of the eighth to preserve the win and record her second save of the year.

Tufi started the game in the top of the first inning, blasting a two-run home run to left centerfield, giving LA Tech a 2-0 lead.

However, the lead was short-lived as Lamar countered with two runs in the first off Tech starter Carolina Sanchez to tie the game. After Lamar took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth, Tech countered with a two-spot in the fifth.

Tech retook the lead in the fifth as Katie Smith doubled and Karlee Jensen singled to put runners on the corners. Anna Cross then hit a sacrifice fly to tie the game at 3-3 and then pinch hitter Katelynn Cook singled through the left side to give Tech a 4-3 advantage.

After Lamar plated four runs over the next two innings to take a 7-4 advantage, Tech countered with a huge two-out rally in the seventh.

Janine Godwin singled and then two outs later, Cross doubled to left field, scoring Godwin and cutting the deficit to 7-5. After Cook reached on an error, Tufi walked and Kassie Harris was hit by a pitch to make the score 7-6. Krysta Tutsch was then hit by a pitch to tie the game at 7-7.

Duran then stepped to the plate and launched her second home run of the year deep over the left field fence, clearing the bases and giving LA Tech an 11-7 lead.

Lamar answered once again. The Cardinals scored four runs in the bottom of the frame to tie the game at 11-11 and sending into extra innings.

In the eighth, Tufi recorded a two-out, two-run single scoring Cross and Jensen who had both singled and giving the Lady Techsters a 13-11 lead.

Tufi then came on in relief in the bottom of the eight and retired the side for her second save of the season.

Duran (3-4) picked up the win while Tufi (2) recorded the save.

Offensively, Tech was led by Cross (2-4, 2 runs, 2 RBI), Tori Charters (1-3, 2 runs), Cook (1-2, 1 RBI), Tufi (2-4, 1 run, 4 RBI), Harris (1 RBI), Lindsey Neyland (1 run), Tutsch (0-3, 1 run, 1 RBI), Duran (1-4, 4 RBI, 1 run), Godwin (1-4), Smith (1-4, 2 runs), and Jensen (3-4, 2 runs).

Tech returns to action Saturday when they face UT-Martin at 9 a.m. and Illinois at 4:30 p.m.