Box Score

RUSTON, La. ââ'¬" Louisiana Tech won the first game of a Conference USA doubleheader with UAB 7-2 to extend its winning streak to 13 games before seeing the streak come to an end with a 4-0 loss to the Blazers in the nightcap Saturday at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.

Tech (29-18, 14-6 C-USA) and UAB (20-27-1, 11-5-1) maintain their lead at the top of the C-USA standings with the doubleheader split. The two teams will meet in the rubber game Sunday at 1 p.m. with Senior Day ceremonies for five Lady Techsters set for the conclusion of the contest.

Game 1: LA Tech 7, UAB 2

Morgan Turkoly's two-out, two-run home run in the bottom of the fourth supplied the go-ahead runs as junior Preslee Gallaway tossed another impressive complete game to lead LA Tech to a 7-2 victory in game one.

Gallaway (15-6) picked up her ninth win in Conference USA action, tossing a complete-game three hitter while striking out 10 batters. The Pilot Point, Texas native surrendered a two-run home run to Rachel Rogers in the top of the fourth inning that gave UAB a 2-1 lead.

However, Tech responded in the bottom of the frame. Marilyn Rizzato singled and with two outs stole second base to get into scoring position. Turkoly then hit a laser over the left centerfield fence for a two-run shot and a 3-2 Lady Techster lead. The home run was the 17th of Turkoly's career, moving her into a tie for 10th place in the Tech record books.

The score remained 3-2 until the bottom of the sixth inning when Tech erupted for four runs and four hits and one error. Rizzato doubled to left field and then one out later Kimmie Atienza laid down a bunt single to put runners on the corners. Turkoly then walked to load the base.s

Katie Smith hit a ground ball to shortstop that UAB SS Natalie Erwin threw away at home plate, allowing one run to score. Taria Page then followed with a two-run double to left centerfield to up the advantage to 6-2. Senior Karlee Jensen drove home the final run of the frame with an RBI single up the middle.

Gallaway retired all three batters in the seventh to pick up the win.

Tech took an early 1-0 lead in the third inning as Turkoly walked, stole second base and scored on a two-out RBI single by freshman Sloane Stewartson.

Turkoly (2-2, 3 runs, HR, 2 RBI, SB), Atienza (1-3, SB), Smith (run, SB), Page (1-4, 2 RBI), Stewartson (2-2, RBI), Jensen (1-1, RBI), Ali Galaz (1-4), Rizzato (2-2, run, SB), and Kailey Anderson (run) led Tech offensively.

Game 2: UAB 4, LA Tech 0

UAB sophomore Claire Blount pitched a four-hit shutout as the Blazers snapped LA Tech's 13-game winning streak by the score of 4-0.

Blount pitched around a number of jams as Tech had multiple base runners on in four of the first five innings, but the Lady Techsters failed to plate a run.

Tech starter Krystal De La Cruz (3-8) worked a perfect first inning and then pitched out of a jam in the second inning before UAB shortstop Natalie Erwin hit a two-run home run deep over the left field fence in the top of the third inning, giving the Blazers a 2-0 lead.

Analyse Petree then followed with a double, chasing De La Cruz from the game. Jenny Chapman came on in relief and retired the next two batters to keep the deficit at 2-0.

Senior Bailey Allen then pitched the final 4.0 innings for Tech, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while keeping the Lady Techsters in striking range.

However, Blount worked around four hits and four walks to record just her second shutout of the season.

Katie Smith (2-3), Atienza (1-2), and Berkley Calapp (1-3) recorded the only four hits of the game for Tech.