Box Score

AUSTIN, Texas ââ'¬" Louisiana Tech dropped a pair of games Saturday afternoon as the Lady Techsters fell 4-3 to undefeated South Carolina and 9-2 to the host Texas team at the Longhorn Invitational.

Louisiana Tech, playing without all-Conference USA outfielder Morgan Turkoly who was injured Friday, played toe-to-toe with Texas on Friday in a 6-5 loss and South Carolina on Saturday.

South Carolina 4, LA Tech 3

The Lady Techsters fell victim to an overturned call at home plate in the bottom of the sixth that ultimately proved to be the difference in the 4-3 loss to the undefeated Gamecocks.

Trailing 4-2 with two outs and runners on first and second, Louisiana Tech appeared to have successfully run a double steal as Jessica Ball was called safe at home ââ'¬" cutting the lead to 4-3. However, after Ball went back to the LA Tech dugout, she was called out as the umpire claimed she never touched home plate, thus erasing the run from the scoreboard.

"We executed the play perfectly," said Montgomery. "We couldn't have run it any better. I'm going to go back and look at the film, but my eyes saw Jess work really hard to get her hand on the back of the plate when the catcher was sitting on the plate. That was a big call."

The overturn proved critical. Tech rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning. Jazlyn Crowder singled and Tori Charters followed with a single to put runners on first and second. After Pauline Tufi popped out to first base, Taria Page singled up the middle scoring Crowder from second base and cutting the lead to 4-3.

Ali Galaz ââ'¬" who recorded four hits on the day ââ'¬" was then called out on strikes for the final out as USC improved to 9-0 on the year.

"I am so proud of my kids," said Tech head coach Mark Montgomery. "We had to fight and fight and fight tonight. And we didn't just battle a very good South Carolina team and a pitcher (in Nickie Blue) that throws 68 miles per hour. We battled a lot more than that. I can't tell you how proud I am of these girls. I know we have lost a couple of one run games this weekend, but we are just as good as these teams we are playing."

Tech posted eight hits and three runs against South Carolina's ace in Blue, who entered the game having allowed zero runs and only six hits in her first 16 innings in the circle this year. However, Blue improved to 4-0 on the season.

Both teams plated a pair of unearned runs early in the game as the Gamecocks scored two in the top of the third inning before LA Tech rallied with two in the bottom of the frame.

Tech starter Bailey Allen, making only her second start of the season, was impressive in the circle. Allen allowed four runs ââ'¬" two earned ââ'¬" on seven hits and one walk in 5.1 innings of action. Jenny Chapman pitched the final 1.2 innings, allowing only one base runner.

"I thought Bailey gave us five strong innings," Montgomery said. "She made the one mistake on the two-run home run. Besides that, she was pretty good. And Jenny came in and was really good. She is doing exactly what we need her to do in relief. We are learning a lot about our team this weekend."

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

Texas 9, LA Tech 2

Louisiana Tech saw Texas put on a two-out hitting clinic as the Longhorns scored seven of their nine runs with two outs in defeating the Lady Techsters 9-2.

Texas went 7-for-13 with runners in scoring position ââ'¬" most of those hits coming with two outs ââ'¬" and the Longhorns used a four-run sixth inning to blow open a competitive game.

The Longhorns scored in five of their six innings against three different LA Tech pitchers, including handing Tech starter Preslee Gallaway (3-2) her second loss of the season.

"Preslee just wasn't sharp today," said Montgomery. "It just wasn't her day. They were able to sit dead red and it hurt us. It's the first tough outing she has had this year. I know Preslee and she will work hard to make sure she is better next time."

Trailing 1-0 in the third inning, LA Tech recorded three straight singles to open the frame and a bases loaded walk to Pauline Tufi tied the game at 1-1. However, Tech left the bases loaded, failing to add more runs.

Texas added one run in the third and fourth and two more in the fifth to up its advantage to 5-1. Tech had scoring opportunities in both the fourth and fifth innings but stranded a total of four runners, two in each frame.

The Lady Techsters added a run in the sixth inning. Ali Galaz tripled and then with two outs, Jessica Ball tripled to centerfield, plating Galaz and cutting the Longhorns lead to 5-2.

However, Texas scored four runs in the bottom of the sixth off Jenny Chapman and Krystal De La Cruz to push the lead to 9-2.

Gallaway took the loss, allowing five runs on eight hits and three walks while striking out one in 4.1 innings of action.

Offensively, Tech was led by Galaz (3-3, 1 run), Ball (2-3, 1 RBI), Charters (1-3), Tufi (RBI), and Berkley Calapp (1-2, 1 run).