Box Score

RUSTON - Louisiana Tech stranded 12 base runners and couldn't take advantage of four Northwestern State errors as the Lady Techsters fell 4-0 at home Wednesday night to the Lady Demons.

"I am disappointed tonight," said Tech head coach Mark Montgomery. "I'm not disappointed in the loss. I'm disappointed because we did not come close to giving our best effort. We simply didn't. I think our players know that this is true to. To beat a good team like Northwestern State, you have to give your best effort and we came up short.

"I am confident moving forward that this won't happen again. Our kids are hungry to finish off what has been a solid year. They know they can play much better than we did tonight."

For the first time in 39 games this season, Louisiana Tech failed to plate a run as Northwestern State's Mikayla Brown and Skylar Cagle combined for the shutout.

Tech starter Bianca Duran matched the effort of the two NSU hurlers through the first five innings as neither team plated a run, despite numerous scoring opportunities.

The Lady Techsters stranded the bases loaded in the first inning. It was just a sign of things to come offensively on the night for Tech, which left at least one runner on base in every inning of the game.

With the game knotted at 0-0 in the top of the sixth inning, NSU finally came up with the big hit as Cassandra Barefield launched a two-run home run - her 13th of the year - deep over the centerfield fence for the 2-0 lead.

The Lady Demons added onto the lead in the top of the seventh inning, scoring two more runs on three hits off Tech reliever Bailey Allen. Tech never threatened in the bottom of the frame as NSU swept the season series.

Duran (13-10) took the loss, allowing two runs on four this and two walks in 5.1 innings of action. Allen worked the final 1.2 innings, allowing two runs on three hits.

Offensively, Tech was led by Janine Godwin (2-3), Tori Charters (1-3), Pauline Tufi (1-4), Kassie Harris (1-3), Bianca Duran (1-4) and Katie Smith (1-2).