Box Score

RUSTON ââ'¬" Jazlyn Crowder recorded three hits, Morgan Turkoly hit her first home run of the year and three Louisiana Tech pitchers combined for a no-hitter as the Lady Techsters defeated Grambling State 15-0 in five innings Wednesday.

Preslee Gallaway, Krystal De La Cruz and Bailey Allen combined for the program's first no-hitter in two years while striking out six batters and allowing only two base runners.

De La Cruz (6-0) picked up the win, tossing a perfect two innings of relief while striking out four of the six batters she faced. Gallaway got the start, issuing a walk and hitting a batter but striking out two in the 2.0 innings of action. Allen pitched a perfect 1-2-3 inning thanks to a great defensive play by Turkoly for the first out of the top of the fifth inning, saving the no-hitter.

Offensively, Tech recorded 10 hits, including three doubles and Turkoly's three-run blast to straight away centerfield capping a four-run fourth inning.

"I thought our approach at the plate and just the way we played the game tonight was spot on," said Tech head coach Mark Montgomery. "We played the game the right way. We approached our at bats the right way. Our pitchers got ahead of hitters. Our defense played well. This was the way we know to play the game. We need to take this same approach this weekend against UAB."

The Lady Techsters plated nine runs in the first inning on five hits, two errors, three walks and a hit batter as Tech sent 15 batters to the plate against Grambling State pitcher D'Maria Matthews. Taria Page (2-run double), Marilyn Rizzato (2-run single), Katie Smith (RBI single) and Jazlyn Crowder (2-run double) all recorded run-scoring hits in the frame.

Tech added two runs in the bottom of the third inning on an RBI fielder's choice by Turkoly and a double steal by Ali Galaz and Turkoly.

The Lady Techsters finished the offensive outburst in the fourth inning on an RBI single by Crowder and a three-run home run by Turkoly.

Offensively, Tech was led by Crowder (3-4, 4 runs, 3 RBI), Tori Charters (run, SB), Natalie Moran (1-2), Turkoly (1-2, 3 runs, 4 RBI, SB), Page (1-1, 2 RBI), Galaz (1-3, run, SB), Pauline Tufi (run, SB), Rizzato (1-2, run, 2 RBI), Smith (1-1, RBI), Kimmie Atienza (run), Jessica Ball (1-3, run), Karlee Jensen (run, SB) and Berkley Calapp (run).

It marked the 12th shutout win of the year by the LA Tech pitching staff and the 11th run-rule victory of the season by the Lady Techsters. The 15 runs were a season high.

Tech returns to action this weekend with a three-game series at UAB.