RUSTON, La. -- Although there is still plenty of meaningful softball left in the regular season plus the Conference USA Tournament and a possible NCAA Regional appearance, five Louisiana Tech seniors will play their final home games this weekend when the Lady Techsters host UAB in a huge league series in Ruston.

It is No. 1 vs. No. 2 in the current C-USA standings. Tech (28-17, 13-5 C-USA) sits in first place winners of 12 straight games, including nine straight C-USA contests. UAB (19-26-1, 10-4-1) sits in second place, coming off a three-game series sweep over WKU last weekend in Birmingham.

Saturday's doubleheader is set for 12 p.m. Sunday's single game is slated for 1 p.m. Senior Day ceremonies for Bailey Allen, Ali Galaz, Kassie Harris, Karlee Jensen and Katie Smith will occur as part of Sunday's action barring any changes due to potential weather that could affect the weekend schedule.

Head coach Mark Montgomery knows the importance of honoring his senior class while also managing any emotions that might come with the weekend. He also knows the impact this weekend's series could have on Tech's chances of claiming the program's first regular season conference title.

"These ladies were part of my first recruiting class at Tech," said Montgomery. "They have been the foundation of elevating this program to where we are today. They hold a special place in my heart. Senior weekend is always emotional, and it is a matter of controlling those emotions; using them to the team's advantage. We know it will be a tough series."

Over the past three weeks, all Tech has done is win. Since being swept in a three-game series at North Texas in late March, the Lady Techsters have flipped the switch, outscoring their opponents 87-27 during what is the nation's fourth longest active win streak.

When asked by Monroe News-Star sports writer Cory Diaz this week about what it was like to get swept in Denton, Tech junior outfielder Morgan Turkoly put it best.

"It didn't feel good, that's for sure," said Turkoly bluntly.

That not-so-good feeling has stuck with Tech and has served as motivation over the past few weeks, according to Montgomery.

"We knew we were better than what we showed that weekend," said Montgomery. "We didn't play well in any facet of the game. I think it was a jolt for us. I commend our players turning it into a positive. Instead of hanging their heads and feeling sorry for themselves, they have worked that much harder and it has paid off the last three weeks."

This weekend's series is the next-to-last conference series for Tech, while most of the other league schools still have three weekends remaining. Tech will play a two-game non-conference series vs. Utah State in McKinney, Texas next weekend before ending the regular season at UTEP.

Thus, a successful weekend at home against UAB could put the Lady Techsters in prime position heading into the final two weeks of the regular season. Tech has dominated league play at home over the last three years, winning 11 of the last 12 Conference USA series, including six 3-game series sweeps. Tech is 29-7 at home in its last 36 C-USA games.

However, none of that will matter come first pitch of Saturdays first game against the Blazers.

Despite struggling during non-conference play (UAB is 9-22 in its 31 non-conference games), the Blazers have been more than solid in league games recording seven wins by two runs or less. UAB owns the second best team earned run average in C-USA only games (2.55) led by freshman Emily Kachel and sophomore Claire Blount.

Offensively, outfielder Destini England (.483) and shortstop Natalie Erwin (.465) both rank in the top four in batting average in league only games. The Blazers have struggled defensively this season, ranking last in the league in fielding percentage at .938, committing a league-high 84 errors.

"UAB is a program that has a tradition of winning in this conference," said Montgomery. "Although they have struggled some out of conference, they expect to win in the league. That is their mindset when they step on the field. I expect their best effort this weekend. It should be a very competitive series."

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