Box Score April 19, 2017 Box Score
RUSTON ââ'¬" Louisiana Tech left 14 runners on base, committed a pair of costly errors and ran itself out of another inning as the Lady Techsters fell 5-3 to Nicholls State Wednesday night.
Tech (29-16) stranded a season-high 14 runners in the loss, including 10 over the final four innings of action as the Lady Techsters once again lost a mid-week game.
"We will not win if we keep having multiple people make multiple mistakes in games," said head coach Mark Montgomery. "We have developed a reputation in these mid-weeks games and it's not one we should be proud of. Until we learn to approach these games like we approach the weekend conference series, we are going to continue to get these types of results. It's a mindset."
Tech trailed 1-0 when Jessica Ball hit a sacrifice fly to right field in the bottom of the second inning, scoring Pauline Tufi from third base. It was the only run Tech plated in the inning despite recording four hits as a base-running mistake on a double steal cost the Lady Techsters.
After Nicholls State (29-15) took a 3-1 lead in the fourth inning, Tech responded in the bottom of the fifth. Tori Charters and Morgan Turkoly each singled and then Taria Page drove both runners home with a 2-run double to right field to tie the game at 3-3. Tech then loaded the bases with no outs on walks to Tufi and Rizzato, but Nicholls State reliever Jackie Johnson recorded back-to-back strikeouts and a fly ball to keep Tech from taking the lead.
However, for the third time in the game, Nicholls State took the lead, scoring two runs on three hits in the top of the sixth inning off Tech reliever Preslee Gallaway ââ'¬" both runs coming with two outs.
Tech had one final chance. With two outs in the seventh and no one on, Ball singled, and Karlee Jensen and Jazlyn Crowder both walked to load the bases. However, Johnson got a ground ball out to end the game.
Gallaway (12-11) took the loss, allowing two runs on three hits and one walk in 2.0 innings of action.
Tech returns to action this weekend when it travels to San Antonio for a three-game C-USA series vs. UTSA.
