Box Score

RUSTON, La. ââ'¬" Louisiana Tech maintained its Conference USA lead Sunday as the Lady Techsters recorded an emotional 7-1 come-from-behind win over UAB on Senior Day at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.

Junior Preslee Gallaway (16-6) was a workhorse in the circle for the second straight day, giving up an early run before settling down and holding the Blazers (20-29-1, 11-6-1) scoreless over the final six innings of action.

Tech (30-18, 15-6 C-USA) managed only five hits on the day but capitalized on seven walks and some productive outs at the plate.

"We just had to manage some emotions today with it being senior day," said Tech head coach Mark Montgomery. "I thought we did a pretty good job of that. We fell behind early because Preslee left a couple of pitches up in the zone when she was ahead of batters. I walked out there and stated the obvious and she was really, really good once again. This was a big weekend and to win this series was just another step for us."

Tech trailed 1-0 through two innings and it appeared UAB was on its way to tacking on more runs. However, with a runner on first and one out, Tech centerfielder Jazlyn Crowder made an unbelievable grab on a ball she tracked down deep in left centerfield. Crowder then threw a bullet to second baseman Karlee Jensen who relayed to Bayli Simon at first base to complete the double play and end the frame.

The defensive play seemed to energize the Techsters.

Marilyn Rizzato led the bottom of the third inning off with Tech's first hit of the day, a sharp single through the left side of the infield. Kimmie Atienza and Morgan Turkoly both followed with walks to load the bases with no outs.

After Katie Smith reached on a fielder's choice to shortstop on a play that saw pinch runner Kailey Anderson thrown out at home for the first out, Crowder followed with a deep fly ball to centerfield, plating Atienza and tying the game at 1-1.

Simon then walked to load the bases again. With two outs and two strikes, junior Berkley Calapp came through in the clutch with a line drive single to left field, plating Turkoly and Smith and giving the Lady Techsters a 3-1 lead.

"Our lineup was match-up based today," said Tech head coach Mark Montgomery. "It usually is in a lot of cases. We felt Berkley was a great match-up against who we through we would see in the circle. She proved us right with a big hit in a clutch situation. She continues to work hard and she got an opportunity this weekend and came through for us."

UAB threatened again in the top of the fourth inning, loading the bases on two hits and a walk. Gallaway then fell behind Katelyn Sides in the count 3-1 before fighting back to push the count full before inducing a lazy fly ball out to centerfield.

Atienza upped the lead to 4-1 with a two-out, solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning ââ'¬" a laser shot that cut through wind gusts of 20-25 miles per hour blowing in all game long.

Tech added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, all coming with two outs. Ali Galaz laid down a perfect bunt single to drive home Smith and then Jensen followed with a line drive double to right centerfield scoring two more runs.

Gallaway allowed just one hit ââ'¬" an infield single with two outs in the top of the seventh inning ââ'¬" over the final three innings of work.

Tech won its 12th home Conference USA series over the last 13 and finished the season 17-3 at home.

The Lady Techsters will play a midweek game at Northwestern State Wednesday before traveling to McKinney, Texas to face Utah State Friday and Saturday.