Box Score

MEMPHIS, Tenn. ââ'¬" Louisiana Tech split a pair of Saturday games during the second day of the Blue City Classic as the Lady Techsters run-ruled Arkansas-Pine Bluff 12-1 before falling to Memphis 5-2 at the Tigers Softball Complex.

Tech wraps up play Sunday at 9 a.m. against Belmont.

LA Tech 12, UAPB 1 (5 innings)

Jessica Ball and Marilyn Rizzato each recorded three RBI and Louisiana Tech banged out 13 hits in its third straight run-rule win of the tournament.

Tech exploded for five runs in the first and six more in the second and coasted to its 14th win of the season. Ball, Rizzato and Kimmie Atienza all provided multi-hit performances in the win.

Rizzato gave Tech an early 2-0 lead with a 2-run, bases loaded single off the left centerfield fence in the first inning. Katie Smith then drove home the third run with an RBI groundout and Jessica Ball finished the scoring with a two-run single through the right side, the first of her three hits in the game.

Tech kept its foot on the pedal in the bottom of the second inning, scoring six runs on six hits and two Golden Lion errors. Tufi recorded an RBI groundout and Rizzato followed with an RBI single to left field. Ball then drove home a run with a single and Karlee Jensen added a two-run double as Tech pushed its lead to 11-0.

UAPB scored its lone run in the third against LA Tech starter Bailey Allen, who improved to 4-1 on the season. Allen pitched 5.0 innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out three.

Tech finished its scoring in the bottom of the third inning. With two outs, Atienza singled and moved to third on a single by Addison Roark. Ali Galaz then singled up the middle to plate Atienza with the final run of the game.

Offensively, Tech was led by Ball (3-3, run, 3 RBI), Rizzato (2-2, 2 runs, 3 RBI), Atienza (2-2, 3 runs), Jensen (1-2, 2 RBI), Crowder (1-3, 1 run), Charters (1-4, 2 runs), Tufi (1 run, 1 RBI), Roark (1-1), Galaz (1-2, 1 run, 1 RBI) and Smith (1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI).

Memphis 5, LA Tech 2

Memphis capitalized on three Louisiana Tech errors and a couple of more misplayed balls to defeat the Lady Techsters 5-2.

Tech, which had outscored its previous three opponents in the tournament 31-2, simply wasn't sharp defensively. The Tigers scored an unearned run on the bottom of the first inning on a throwing error by starting pitcher Preslee Gallaway on a delayed steal attempt.

The Tigers added to its lead in the third inning. With a runner on third and two outs, Lindsey Crowdus hit a fly ball to centerfield that was misjudged, allowing a run to score and Crowdus to reach third on what was ruled a triple. A wild pitch then allowed Crowdus to score, upping the advantage to 3-0.

Memphis would add a single run in the fourth inning as once again Tech misplayed a ball that would have been the final out of the inning. The Tigers led 4-0.

Tech, which recorded only two hits through the first four innings, finally came to life in the fifth. Katie Smith hit a one-out solo home run high over the left field wall for the first run for the Lady Techsters. Berkley Calapp then followed with a double down the left field line and with two outs, Jazlyn Crowder doubled to right field, plating Calapp to make the score 4-2.

After Memphis added an unearned run in the fifth inning on a throwing error by Tech on a stolen base, the Lady Techsters tried to rally once again. Pauline Tufi drew a one-out walk and Addison Roark followed with a ground ball to third base where no out was recorded. With runners on first and second and one out, Memphis starter Christian Novak induced a double play ground ball to end the threat.

Gallaway (6-4) took the loss, allowing four runs ââ'¬" three earned ââ'¬" on six hits with five strikeouts in 4.0 innings of action. Jenny Chapman worked the final two innings, allowing one unearned run on two hits with three strikeouts.