Box Score

CHARLOTTE, North Carolina ââ'¬" Florida Atlantic used a seven-run sixth inning to come-from-behind and defeat Louisiana Tech 7-4 in the second day of the Conference USA Championship game at Sue M. Daughtridge Stadium.

With the loss, LA Tech (34-22) will face UAB in an elimination game Friday at 1:30 p.m. CT. The Blazers fell to Middle Tennessee 11-6 Thursday. The Lady Techsters will need to win a pair of games Friday in order to advance Saturday's title game. The contest can be heard on KNBB 97.7 FM.

The game appeared to be a pitcher's duel early as Tech ace Preslee Gallaway and FAU ace Tatum Buckley matched pitch-for-pitch and out-for-out through the first three innings in a scoreless game. Tech finally struck first in the top of the fourth inning.

Morgan Turkoly reached on a fielding error by the FAU leftfielder and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Katie Smith. Freshman Sloane Stewartson then drove a Buckley pitch high and deep over the left field fence, giving the Lady Techsters the 2-0 lead. It was the fifth home run of the season for Stewartson.

Tech added to its lead in the top of the fifth inning. With two outs, Karlee Jensen popped up to second base but the FAU second baseman lost the ball in the sun as it fell to the turf for an infield single keeping the inning alive. Kimmie Atienza then hit her fourth home run of the season, a two-run shot down the left field line upping the advantage to 4-0.

Gallaway held FAU to only three hits through the first five innings before the Owls finally came to life in the bottom of the sixth inning. FAU plated seven runs on five hits off of three LA Tech pitcher, including a bases-clearing two-out double by Madisyn Palmer to deep left centerfield giving the Owls the lead.

Buckley set Tech down in order in the seventh to seal the win for the Owls.