Box Score

BATON ROUGE ââ'¬" LSU scored four runs in the bottom of the second inning and Tiger ace Carly Hoover threw a complete-game no-hitter as the No.7-ranked Tigers defeated Louisiana Tech 5-0 at Tiger Park Wednesday night.

Tech (5-1) fell victim to some defensive miscues in the bottom of the second inning that ultimately cost the Lady Techsters four runs, giving Hoover and the Tigers more than enough breathing room the rest of the night.

"We didn't make adjustment quick enough at the plate," said Tech coach Mark Montgomery. "All the credit goes to Carly Hoover. She pitched a great game. I thought we made some key mistakes early that allowed them to get a cushion and then play confident and relaxed the rest of the way.

"If we could have kept game tight, we might have been able to muster something. I feel like the fact we didn't put pressure on them early, the fact they were able to open up a 4-run lead because of our mistakes, was the real story of the game. That and the job Carly Hoover did against us in the circle."

Lady Techster starter Preslee Gallaway and relievers Krystal De La Cruz and Jenny Chapman were all solid in the circle for Tech, allowing 10 hits (all of them singles). However, the Louisiana Tech offense was completely shut down by Hoover who went the distance, striking out 11 while walking four and not surrendering a hit.

"I thought all three of our kids pitched really well," said Montgomery. "They got some hits but they never really hit us hard all night. We just didn't play well enough behind them for seven innings to really put pressure on LSU."

With the game tied at 0-0 in the bottom of the second inning, LSU put runners on second and third with two outs. Gallaway then induced a tough ground ball to the 5-6 hole that shortstop Katie Smith wasn't able to handle cleanly. It was originally ruled an error ââ'¬" but later changed to a base hit ââ'¬" and allowed the first run to score.

The following LSU batter hit a routine grounder that second baseman Karlee Jensen fielded cleanly, but Tech first baseman Jazlyn Crowder ââ'¬" normally the Lady Techsters right fielder and making her first start at first base ââ'¬" came too far off the base on the play and couldn't recover, giving Tech no play as the second run scored.

With the bases loaded and two outs, LSU then hit a ground ball to Jensen at second base. Jensen attempted to tag the runner going from first to second base but it was ruled that she missed the tag. Her late attempt to throw to first base sailed high, allowing two more runs to score and giving LSU a 4-0 advantage.

Tech had a chance in the top of the third inning. Smith and Berkley Calapp drew back-to-back leadoff walks and then advanced to second and third with no outs on a wild pitch. Hoover then threw a second wild pitch. However, Smith hesitated at third base and by the time she broke for home, it was too late she was thrown out on the play. The next two Tech batters struck out ending the threat.

LSU (5-1) added an insurance run on three hits in the bottom of the fourth inning. Tech would not get a runner past first base the final four innings of action.

Gallaway (2-1) took the loss, allowing five runs ââ'¬" three earned ââ'¬" on nine hits and one walk while striking out three. De La Cruz tossed one inning without allowing a hit or a walk while Chapman tossed the final inning, allowing one hit and one walk before a 4-6-3 double play ended the threat.

"This is one game and we will learn from it," said Montgomery. "We have an opportunity this weekend to play some great teams in Austin. I think we are a mature enough team to put this one behind us and move forward."

The Lady Techsters return to action Friday in the first day of the Texas Invitational. Tech will face Indiana at 10 a.m. and Texas at 12:30 p.m.