Box Score

RUSTON ââ'¬" Louisiana Tech used four two-run hits and a combined three-hit shutout by Bailey Allen and Krystal De La Cruz to defeat Stephen F. Austin 8-0 in six innings at the Lady Techster Softball Complex Tuesday night.

With the win, Tech improves to 21-12 on the season, including a 13-2 record at home. SFA fell to 10-21 on the year.

Allen (6-2) was in total control in the circle as the junior tossed 4.0 shutout innings allowing only one single and one walk before giving way to De La Cruz in the fifth. De La Cruz worked the final 2.0 innings, allowing only two singles. It marked the 10th shutout of the season for the LA Tech pitching staff.

While Allen and De La Cruz kept SFA at bay, the Lady Techster bats woke up in the third inning as Tech plated two runs in each of the third, fourth, fifth and sixth innings.

In the bottom of the third, Ali Galaz led off with a double to right centerfield, Jazlyn Crowder walked and Tori Charters followed with an infield single to load the bases. Taria Page then lined a single through the left side of the infield, plating two and giving the Lady Techsters a 2-0 advantage.

Tech added two more runs in the fourth. With two outs, Tech got three straight hits, including a two-run single from Morgan Turkoly to left field, scoring both Crowder and Jessica Ball as the lead increased to 4-0.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, Pauline Tufi singled through the right side and Addison Roark walked. After a sacrifice bunt by Katie Smith advanced the runners to second and third, Galaz registered a two-out, two-run single to right field upping the Tech lead to 6-0.

Tech ended the game in the bottom of the sixth inning. Turkoly reached on a catcher's interference and Kassie Harris singled to left center field and both runners advanced a base on a wild pitch. Tufi then laced a two-run double to right centerfield to score both runners and give LA Tech its 10th run rule win of the year.

Offensively, Tech was led by Crowder (1-3, 2 runs), Charters (1-2), Ball (1-2, run), Turkoly (1-3, run, 2 RBI), Page (1-2, 2 RBI), Harris (1-1, run), Tufi (2-3, 2 RBI), Rizzato (run), Karlee Jensen (run) and Galaz (2-3, run, 2 RBI).

The Lady Techsters will return to action Saturday when they host Middle Tennessee in a Conference USA doubleheader starting at 2 p.m.