Box Score - Game 1

Box Score - Game 2

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RUSTON - Freshman Bailey Allen recorded a complete-game, two-hit victory leading Louisiana Tech to a 4-1 win over Charlotte in the second game of a Conference USA doubleheader Saturday afternoon at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.

Tech (21-9, 5-3 C-USA) fell 9-4 in the first game of the day as the 49ers (15-15, 4-4 C-USA) scored six runs over the final two innings to record the come-from-behind victory.

The two teams will return to the field Sunday at 1 p.m. in the rubber game of the three-game series.

Game 1 (Charlotte 9, LA Tech 4)

Louisiana Tech rallied from a pair of early game deficits to take the lead but Charlotte responded by scoring six runs in the final two frames to pull off the 9-4 win in game one of the doubleheader.

With Tech leading 4-3 and two outs in the top of the sixth inning, Jessica Plemmons launched an 0-2 pitch deep over the left centerfield wall for a three-run shot giving Charlotte a 6-4 advantage. The 49ers added three more runs on five hits in the seventh to pull away for the victory.

After Charlotte took an early 2-0 lead with a pair of runs off Tech starter Bianca Duran in the top of the second inning, Tech responded in the bottom of the frame. Duran singled and Janine Godwin followed with a double to left center. With two outs and the runners on second and third, freshman Karlee Jensen laced a single to right field scoring both runners and tying the game.

Charlotte retook the lead at 3-2 in the top of the fourth thanks to a pair of errors by LA Tech. Tech wasted little time in responding again. Duran singled and then pinch runner Casey Ingram scored from third base on a sacrifice fly by Godwin to centerfield as the game was tied at 3-3.

Tech took its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when Tori Charters singled, advanced to second on a throwing error by Charlotte and then scored on Kassie Harris' two-out RBI single to right field.

After allowing the first two batters to reach on hits in the top of the sixth, Duran was relieved by Pauline Tufi in the circle. Tufi got two outs and was ahead in the count on Plemmons before the 49ers centerfielder hit her fourth home run of the season to give Charlotte the lead.

Duran (11-8) took the loss, allowing five runs -four earned - on nine hits while striking out two in 5.0 innings of action. Betcancourt (10-10) picked up the win for Charlotte, allowing four runs - three earned - on seven hits and four walks while striking out 10.

Offensively, Tech was led by Charters (2-4, 1 run), Duran (2-4, 1 run), Harris (1-3, 1 RBI), Godwin (1-2, 1 run, 1 RBI), Jensen (1-3, 2 RBI), Ingram (1 run).

Game 2 (LA Tech 4, Charlotte 1)

Freshman Bailey Allen picked up her fourth win of the season, third in Conference USA play, as she held Charlotte to only two hits and one run while striking out five in the complete-game performance.

Allen didn't allow multiple base runners in the same inning until the top of the seventh when she retired Hayley Lewis on a ground ball back to the circle to end the game with runners on first and second base.

Tech gave Allen all the run support she would need in the bottom of the second inning on a pair of home runs off Charlotte starter Lexi Betancourt. With two outs and no runners on base in the bottom of the second, Bianca Duran lined a pitch from Betancourt over the left centerfield fence for her seventh home run of the season and a 1-0 lead.

After Betancourt then hit Janine Godwin with a pitch, freshman Katie Smith drove the first pitch she saw deep over the left centerfield wall for her second home run of the season. Tech led 3-0.

Tech added an insurance run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Kassie Harris led off with a double and then pinch runner Casey Ingram scored on Karlee Jensen's two-out, RBI single up the middle as Tech led 4-0.

Charlotte recorded their first hit of the game in the top of the fifth inning as Samantha Slade's double to right center scored the only run of the game for the 49ers.

Betancourt took the loss for Charlotte, allowing four runs on four hits and two walks while striking out five.

Offensively, Tech was led by Smith (1-2, 1 run, 2 RBI, HR), Duran (1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI, HR), Harris (1-3), Jensen (1-3, 1 run) and Ingram (1 run).