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RUSTON ââ'¬" Louisiana Tech overcame an early three-run deficit and rallied to defeat Samford 9-3 in Sunday's finale of the Louisiana Tech Invitational hosted at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.

Tech (5-0) ended the weekend with a perfect 5-0 record to win the tournament title while outscoring its opponents 35-9.

Win No. 5 didn't come easy, despite the final score.

Samford jumped out to a three-run lead in the first inning against Tech starting pitcher Bailey Allen, who lasted just five batters. Two singles and a hit batter loaded the bases in the top of the first inning for Samford DP Hanna Trombley, who lined a pitch to the wall in right center, clearing the bases and giving the Bulldogs the 3-0 cushion.

Tech then turned to sophomore pitcher Krystal De La Cruz. She responded.

De La Cruz, a transfer from Texas A&M International, retired 14 of the 15 batters she faced in the game, allowing only a leadoff walk in the fifth inning. De La Cruz struck out four batters in relief and never allowed a runner past first base. She was aided by some solid defense as second baseman Karlee Jensen made a diving catch on a line drive up the middle and third baseman Berkley Calapp made a diving catch in foul territory on a pop up on a bunt attempt.

While De La Cruz was cruising in the circle, the Tech bats were silent through the first three innings against Samford freshman Taylor DeCelles, who held the Lady Techsters to three hits and no runs until the fourth. That's when Tech found its offense.

With one out, junior Ali Galaz put Tech on the scoreboard with a solo home run over the left field wall, cutting the deficit to 3-1. Marilyn Rizzato followed with a double ââ'¬"her fourth of the weekend ââ'¬" and then scored on Katie Smith's RBI single up the middle. Tech trailed 3-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, the floodgates opened for Tech. Jazlyn Crowder walked and Tori Charters singled and then Morgan Turkoly tied the game on a ground-rule RBI double to left centerfield, scoring Crowder. After Galaz walked to load the bases, Rizzato hit a sacrifice fly to centerfield to give Tech a 4-3 lead.

Smith then drew a two-out walk to once again load the bases and all three runners scored on pinch hitter Taria Page's double to shallow centerfield, giving the Lady Techsters a 7-3 lead.

Sophomore Preslee Gallaway came on in relief of De La Cruz in the sixth inning and tossed two innings, allowing three hits and one walk without surrendering a run.

Tech added two insurance runs in the sixth inning thanks to a pair of errors by the Bulldog defense. Calapp led the frame off with a double and Charters singled up the middle and both runners came around to score on errors on separate plays by Samford.

Offensively, Tech was led by Smith (2-2, 1 run, 1 RBI, 1 SB), Charters (2-4, 2 runs, 1 SB), Galaz (2-3, 2 runs 1 RBI), Turkoly (1-3, 1 run, 2 RBI), Rizzato (1-2, 1 run, 1 RBI), Page (1-1, 3 RBI), Calapp (1-3, 1 run) and Crowder (1 run).

Smith and De La Cruz were named Co-Most Valuable Players of the tournament while teammates Morgan Turkoly and Preslee Gallaway also made the 13-person all-tournament team.

The Lady Techsters return to action Wednesday when they travel to Baton Rouge to play LSU at 6 p.m. in a game that can be seen on the SEC Network Plus.