RUSTON - Louisiana Tech will host a three-game Conference USA series at home for the second straight weekend as the Lady Techsters welcome the UTEP Miners for a Friday doubleheader and a Saturday single game.

Due to UTEP's travel schedule, Friday's doubleheader has been moved up to 2 p.m. while Saturday's single game will start at 11 a.m. Following Saturday's game, an Easter egg hunt will be held on the field for all children (bring your own baskets).

Tech (21-10, 5-4 C-USA) and UTEP (10-24, 5-4 C-USA) are both in the middle of the pack of the Conference USA standings as only the top eight teams out of 12 qualify for the league tournament in early May in Miami.

The Lady Techsters are coming off a weekend that saw them drop two out three in a highly-competitive series against Charlotte. Tech continues to be one of the top power-hitting teams in C-USA, ranking second in home runs with 36.

Although catcher Krysta Tutsch's (.371, 9 HR, 26 RBI) status is uncertain for a second straight weekend, the Lady Techsters still have some offensive firepower in Bianca Duran (.347, 7 HR, 28 RBI), Anna Cross (.319, 4 HR, 20 RBI) and Pauline Tufi (.233, 7 HR, 23 RBI). Tech also continues to get production from a number of freshman led by Karlee Jensen (.359, 16 RBI), Katie Smith (.273, 2 HR, 10 RBI) and Kassie Harris (.233, 1 HR, 12 RBI) while Tori Charters (.382, 20 runs) and Kristen Miles (.297, 17 runs) serve as the table setters for the middle of the Tech order.

Duran (11-8, 2.72 ERA) continues to anchor the LA Tech pitching staff which ranks fourth in Conference USA in team ERA at 2.65. Freshman Bailey Allen (4-1, 1.91 ERA) and Tufi (4-0, 5 saves, 2.56 ERA) provide head coach Mark Montgomery a number of options.

UTEP comes to Ruston for the second straight season after the Miners outscored Tech 32-16 in a three-game sweep last year in a series that saw the Lady Techsters commit 12 errors.

The Miners have struggled on the road this season, posting a 3-23 record, including an 0-10 mark in true road games (3-13 in neutral site games).

Offensively, UTEP is led by Kawehiokalani Netane (.394, 5 HR, 22 RBI), Ashley Eldridge (.379, 7 HR, 31 RBI), Tahla Wade (.345, 14-15 SB) and Kiki Pepi (.323, 4 HR, 13 RBI).

In the circle, UTEP relies on four arms, including Kaitlin Fifield (6-9, 3.94 ERA), Danielle Pearson (4-6, 5.70 ERA), Taylor Grohmann (0-4, 7.71 ERA) and Erika Harrawood (0-5, 15.11 ERA). UTEP's team ERA of 6.23 ranks last among C-USA teams.

A live video/audio stream of all three games will be available through LA Tech All-Access (subscription) while live stats will be provided for free at LATechSports.com. In-game Twitter updates will also be available by following @LATechSB.