Box Score

NATCHITOCHES, La. ââ'¬" Jazlyn Crowder and Sloane Stewartson each drove in three runs to lead Louisiana Tech to a 9-4 win over Northwestern State Wednesday night at Lady Demon Diamond.

Freshman Bayli Simon recorded her third home run of the year ââ'¬" a solo shot off former North DeSoto High School teammate E.C. Delafield ââ'¬" and Kimmie Atienza recorded three hits in the victory as Tech (31-18) swept the season series against Northwestern State (24-20).

The Lady Techsters won for the 15th time in their last 16 games heading into a two-game non-conference series against Utah State this weekend. The games will be play at Craig Ranch in McKinney, Texas with single games Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m.

Bailey Allen, Krystal De La Cruz and Preslee Gallaway combined for seven innings, allowing just four hits while working around seven walks and four hit batters. Northwestern State stranded 13 runners in the game, including stranding the bases loaded three times.

Simon gave Tech the early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning with a line drive home run over the left centerfield fence. NSU answered in the bottom of the frame with a leadoff solo home run from centerfielder Julie Rawls off Allen.

Atienza led the off the third inning with a single, advanced to second on a walk to Morgan Turkoly and then scored on an RBI groundout by Stewartson. Tech led 2-1.

The Lady Demons tied it again in the bottom of the third on an unearned run.

Tech then took the lead for good in the fifth inning, scoring five runs on six hits. Ali Galaz doubled and Atienza singled before Turkoly singled to right field, scoring Galaz and giving Tech a 3-2 lead.

Stewartson then doubled to right centerfield, scoring two more runs and upping the advantage to 5-2. It was the first of three straight run-scoring doubles for Tech as Crowder and Simon each followed with one for the 7-2 lead.

Crowder added to the Tech lead in the top of the sixth inning with a two-out, two-run single to left field, scoring Galaz and Katie Smith.

NSU scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

De La Cruz (4-8) picked up the win, allowing two unearned runs on zero hits but four walks and two hit batters in 3.0 innings of action.

Atienza (3-4, 2 runs, SB), Turkoly (2-4, run, RBI), Smith (1-2, run), Stewartson (2-4, 3 RBI), Crowder (2-4, run, 3 RBI), Simon (2-4, run, 2 RBI), Galaz (2-3, 2 runs) and Emily Daniel (run) led Tech's 14-hit attack.

Turkoly extended her consecutive games reach base safely streak to 35 games while Atienza extended her streak to 18 games, the longest two active streaks in Conference USA.