Final Stats

LA Tech - 15 UAB - 7 (5)

RUSTON, La. - In Sunday's finale, Louisiana Tech scored more runs in a single game than eight other Conference USA schools scored all weekend and the Lady Techsters did it in five innings.

Louisiana Tech (21-13, 3-6 C-USA) blasted five home runs in a 15-7 victory over UAB (17-22, 7-5 C-USA) on Sunday afternoon at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.

"We played five innings and scored five runs in three of those innings," head coach Mark Montgomery said. "We hit five home runs. You have to be proud of the offensive performance. The great thing was that I felt like we had a great eye at the plate. The eight walks are just as important as the five home runs. It showed we were patient at the plate."

After UAB plated a run in the top of the first inning, Louisiana Tech responded with a five run frame in the bottom of the second.

Krysta Tutsch opened the inning with a home run to put Louisiana Tech on the board and tie the game at 1-1.

After Karlee Jensen singled to load the bases with just one out, Anna Cross delivered an RBI-single to left field, giving Louisiana Tech a 2-1 lead over the Blazers. Taria Page followed Cross with a two-RBI single of her own to right field. Cross would score the final run of the frame on a wild pitch and after two innings, the Lady Techsters held a 5-1 lead over UAB.

The Blazers did not quit though, immediately responding with two runs in the top of the third inning.

After Anna Cross drew a walk to open the bottom of the fourth, Pauline Tufi launched her eighth home run of the season down the left field line to get both of those runs back.

Following the Tufi home run, the Blazers walked the bases loaded and Katie Smith made them pay.

Smith ripped a two-out single back up the middle to bring home two more runs in the inning. Tori Charters scored a pitch later on a throwing error, giving Louisiana Tech their second five-run frame of the day.

With their backs against the wall trailing 10-3, the Blazers responded yet again. This time with four runs in the top of the fifth inning. Louisiana Tech made sure UAB never got another chance to rally.

Just like in the fourth inning, Cross drew a leadoff walk, but this time it was Morgan Turkoly who brought her home with a two-out two-run home run to center field.

Natalie Moran duplicated the feat, launching her first career home run over the left field wall as the Lady Techsters went back-to-back for the second time this season, extending the LA Tech lead to 13-7.

Kassie Harris drew a walk and Katelynn Cook decided she had seen enough.

The senior sent a no-doubter over the left field wall to give the Lady Techsters the eight run lead they needed to secure a 15-7 run-rule victory over UAB.

The power surge is nothing new for the Lady Techsters who have blasted 33 home runs in their 21 wins.

The five home runs are the most by a LA Tech team in a single-game since the 2012 squad also hit five in a win over Fresno State at the 2012 Western Athletic Conference Tournament.

"We had to have that [series win]," Montgomery said. "We were sitting at 1-5 in conference. Let's be real honest, we are still not out of the woods. The good news is that we have another series at home this weekend and then we go on the road, but it is not a long flight trip. We are capable of climbing out of that, but we have some work to do. We have to continue playing well and hopefully we get the pitching back where it needs to be and keep the bats where they are now."

Louisiana Tech will have a couple of mid-week games this week as the Lady Techsters host Northwestern State on Tuesday at 6 p.m. and Mississippi State on Wednesday at 6 p.m.