Box Score

Tournament Central

RUSTON - Louisiana Tech got a bases-clearing double from junior catcher Krysta Tutsch but four errors by the Lady Techster infield opened the flood gates as SIU-Edwardsville scored six unearned runs to prevail 6-4 Friday afternoon in the second day of the Lady Techster Invitational.

Tech (0-2) scored all four of its runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a four-run lead. Freshman Karlee Jensen and junior Anna Cross drew back-to-back walks and then advanced a base on a wild pitch. Following the first out of the inning, Pauline Tufi walked to load the bases.

Freshman Kassie Harris then singled to right field, scoring Jensen from third and giving the Lady Techsters a 1-0 lead. One out later, Tutsch fell behind in the count 0-2 but then worked the count full before lining an outside pitch down the left field line, clearing the bases and giving LA Tech a 4-0 advantage.

Tech starter Bianca Duran appeared as if she was ready to shut down the Cougars in the top of the fourth inning, retiring the first two batters. Even after a two-out pinch hit double by SIUE, Duran induced a ground ball to Jensen at second base. However, Jensen tripped, fell to the ground and her throw short-hopped first baseman Amanda Gray who couldn't record the out.

The throwing error kept the Cougars alive. Back-to-back singles cut the Tech advantage to 4-2 and then Haley Chambers drilled a 2-0 offering from Duran deep over the right centerfield wall, giving SIUE a 5-4 lead. All five runs were unearned in the frame.

"We made some mistakes in that frame defensively and even mentally," said Tech head coach Mark Montgomery. "We have to become mentally stronger. We allowed one play to then affect the next play. We allowed it to affect our mindset. Then it snowballed on us.

"We have a lot of young players playing for us. They will grow and learn from these types of losses, and we will get better. Tomorrow is a new day and we get to play two more games. I am confident they will respond in a positive manner."

Following the five-run frame, LA Tech managed only two more hits over the final four innings - an infield single by Anna Cross in the fourth and a single by Jensen to left field in the sixth. However, Tech stranded runners in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings in large part to striking out 13 times against SIUE pitchers Alexis Kohrs and Bailey Douglas.

The Cougars added an insurance run in the top of the sixth inning off LA Tech reliever Pauline Tufi. A fielding error by shortstop Katie Smith with one out eventually came home on a two-out RBI double, upping the SIUE advantage to 6-4.

Duran (0-2) took the loss, allowing five runs - zero earned - on six hits and one walk in 4.0 innings of action. Tufi allowed one unearned run on one hit over the final 3.0 innings of work.

Offensively, Tech was led by Tutsch (1-3, 3 RBI), Cross (1-2, 1 run, 2 SB), Harris (1-4, 1 run, 1 RBI), Jensen (1-2, 1 run, 1 SB) and Kristen Miles (1 run).

The Lady Techsters return to action Saturday when they face Arkansas-Pine Bluff at 9 a.m. and Abilene Christian at 3:45 p.m.