Box Score

RUSTON, La. ââ'¬" Junior Preslee Gallaway struck out nine batters on her way to her first career no-hitter leading Louisiana Tech to an 8-0 win over LSU-Alexandria Wednesday evening at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.

Gallaway needed only 71 pitches to record her seventh win of the year. She was one batter away from a perfect game as she retired the first 15 batters of the game before hitting LSU-A shortstop Bailey McCleary with a pitch to start the sixth inning.

"We wanted to give Preslee this start," said Tech head coach Mark Montgomery. "She has earned it. She has thrown a lot of tough innings against some of the top teams in the country this year. I wanted her to get some work in a game I felt she wouldn't be overly taxed. She was dominate from start to finish."

Tech gave Gallaway all the run support she would need in the bottom of the first inning, scoring three runs on two hits. After back-to-back walks to Kimmie Atienza and Morgan Turkoly put runners on first and second, Jazlyn Crowder roped a double to right centerfield giving Tech a 2-0 lead. Jensen Howell then drove Crowder home from third with a two-out single down the left field line.

"We did a good job of getting runners on base," said Montgomery. "However, we kept getting big on our swings when we didn't need to. Because of that we stranded some runners in scoring situations."

The Lady Techsters added to their lead in the fourth inning, plating four runs on four hits. Ali Galaz doubled and then Berkley Calapp laid down a bunt single to put runners on the corners. Atienza then drove home a run with a bunt to up the advantage to 4-0.

After a walk to Crowder loaded the bases with one out, Taria Page drove home a run with a sacrifice fly and Sloane Stewartson followed with a two-run single to left field. Tech led 7-0.

Tech ended the game early in the bottom of the sixth. With two outs, Howell tripled into the right field corner and then pinch runner Emily Daniel scored on a bunt single by Kailey Anderson.

Atienza (1-2, 2 runs, RBI), Turkoly (run), Crowder (1-3, 2 runs, 2 RBI, SB), Page (RBI), Stewartson (1-3, 2 RBI), Howell (2-3, RBI), Galaz (2-2, run), Calapp (1-2, run), Anderson (1-1, RBI) and Daniel (run) led Tech offensively.

The Lady Techsters will return to action this weekend when they face FIU in a three-game Conference USA series. Saturday's doubleheader is set for 2 p.m. while Sunday's single game is set for 12 p.m. It's a rematch of last year's championship game of the C-USA Tournament.