Box Score

McKINNEY, Texas ââ'¬" Marilyn Rizzato, Bayli Simon and Jazlyn Crowder all recorded multi-hit performances and Preslee Gallaway struck out five batters over the final 2.2 innings to lead Louisiana Tech to a 5-3 win over Utah State Friday night at Craig Ranch.

Tech (32-18) won for the 16th time in the last 17 games and improved to 19-10 all-time against Utah State (17-28). The two teams will meet Saturday at 2 p.m. for the series finale.

Utah State took an early 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning on two hits, an error and a wild pitch against Lady Techster starter Krystal De La Cruz.

However, Tech responded in the home half of the frame. Morgan Turkoly (1-3, run, SB) singled and stole second base and then advanced to third on a single to left field by Katie Smith (1-2, run, SB). After Smith stole her 25th base of the season, Sloane Stewartson (RBI) grounded out to first base, plating Turkoly with the first run for Tech.

Crowder (2-3 run, RBI, SB) followed with a two-out, line drive single through the left side, plating Smith and tying the game at 2-2.

De La Cruz worked a solid second and third innings for the Lady Techsters, shutting down the Aggies offense. However, in the top of the fourth inning, De La Cruz retired the first batter before hitting consecutive Aggies batters on back-to-back pitches.

Sophomore Jenny Chapman came on in relief with runners on first and second and recorded two straight outs to end the threat.

Tech responded in the bottom of the fourth. Crowder singled, stole second and advanced to third on a fly out to right field. Simon (2-2, run, RBI, SB) then singled to right field, plating Crowder and giving the Lady Techsters a 3-2 lead. Simon stole second and then with two outs scored on Rizzato's double to centerfield.

Utah State fought back in the top of the fifth inning. A lead off single followed by a stolen base and passed ball put runners on the corners. The Aggies then scored a run on a stolen base while an error by the Tech infield on the play allowed the tying run to move to second.

One out later a sharp single to centerfield put runners on second and third with one out. Gallaway came out of the bullpen and got a strike out and a fly out to end the threat, stranding the tying run on third.

In the top of the sixth, the Aggies threatened again. A bloop single followed by a single down the third base line put runners on first and second before a sacrifice bunt moved both of them into scoring position. However, Gallaway struck out Clark and then got a soft line drive to shortstop Katie Smith to end the threat once again.

Tech added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth inning. Ali Galaz (1-3, run) singled and moved to second on a walk to Simon. A fielders choice ground ball by Berkley Calapp put runners on the corners before Rizzato (3-3, 2 RBI) lay down a bunt that split two Utah State defenders for a hit and an RBI.

The Aggies had a chance in the seventh as Gallaway walked the leadoff batter to bring the tying run to the plate. However, the Pilot Point, Texas, native struck out the heart of the Aggies order to end the game.

Chapman (2-0) got the win, allowing one earned run on two hits in 1.0 inning of work. Gallaway picked up her second save of the season, allowing two hits and one walk while striking out five over the final 2.2 innings of action.