RUSTON, La. – With its 11-3 win over Southeast Missouri Saturday morning, Louisiana Tech set a record for the best start in program history as the Lady Techsters won their eighth straight game to start the year.

Tech (8-1) saw that eight-game losing streak snapped in the second game of the day, falling 13-3 to Wichita State (6-3).

"We got behind in the first inning of both games," said Tech head coach Mark Montgomery. "We can't keep doing that. Now, both times we did a nice job coming back and scoring runs in the bottom of the first to get some momentum back. That was a positive sign."

Tech will host a pair of games Sunday, hosting Abilene Christian at 1 p.m. and Fairleigh Dickinson at 3 p.m.

Game 1: LA Tech 11, Southeast Missouri 3

LA Tech fell behind 3-0 in the top of the first inning before scoring 11 unanswered runs to defeat the Redhawks in five innings.

Tech starter Krystal De La Cruz (3-0) was tagged for three unearned runs as a costly error on the second batter of the game led to three runs in the frame.

However, the Lady Techsters responded. Tech scored two in the first, two in the third, two in the fourth and five in the fifth as the game was halted by the eight-run rule.

"I thought we were solid with our offensive approach," said Montgomery. "We had players throughout the lineup come through with big hits. I thought Krystal was really sharp in the circle after the first inning. It was a solid win against a solid team."

Marilyn Rizzato led Tech with three hits and a career-high four RBI while Zoe Hicks added three RBI on one hit. Kimmie Atienza, Jazlyn Crowder, Mary Terral and Lindsay Edwards each contributed one RBI in the victory.

De La Cruz picked up her third win of the season, allowing three unearned runs on five hits and one walk while striking out seven in 5.0 innings of action.

Game 2: Wichita State 13, LA Tech 3

The nightcap started out as a back-and-forth affair before Wichita State capitalized on wildness by the Tech pitching staff. Four Tech pitchers combined to walk nine batters and hit three more and the Shockers (6-3) scored eight runs in the top of the fifth – five of them unearned – to blow open a close game.

"We didn't pitch well," said Montgomery. "However, the zone was unbelievable tight. I'm not making excuses because we have to do a better job regardless. And Wichita State's kids had to throw to the same zone. But it definitely didn't help the situation.

"I hate the game go away like it did. I thought we showed a lot of composure after giving up three runs in the first to come back and score a couple and eventually tie it. But the free passes got to us in the fourth and fifth innings. And the flood gates opened in the fifth on a ground ball to Bayli Simon that I thought interference should have been called on.

"But again, we have to play better across the board. It was just one of those games for us and hopefully we will learn from it and be ready and motivated to come back out here tomorrow."

After trailing 3-0 in the first, Tech plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the first on a Morgan Turkoly RBI double and a Mary Terral RBI groundout. Tech tied the game in the bottom of the second inning when Kimmie Atienza scored on a wild pitch.

WSU (6-3) retook the lead in the top of the fourth, plating two runs on only one hit as Tech pitchers allowed three free passes in the frame.

Atienza (2-3, 2 runs), Turkoly (1-2, run, RBI), Rizzato (1-3) and Terral (RBI) led Tech offensively.