DeLand, Fla. – Louisiana Tech split a Saturday doubleheader against Stetson, falling 3-2 in game one before run-ruling the Hatters 8-0 in five innings in game two.

"We weren't very sharp today," said Tech head coach Mark Montgomery. "We just weren't. We talked after the games about all the things we aren't doing as far as a team and individuals. The players are mad about the loss, which is good. It means they care. They know we are better than we have been playing recently.

"We have two big opportunities tomorrow against quality opponents. We have to quit looking at rankings and listening to the outside noise and just get back to being us. We have to pitch better, play better defense and come up with timely hits. These are all things we did the first weekend in Gulf Shores, and that's the team we are capable of being."

Tech (11-2) will return to action Sunday when it faces Penn State at 11 a.m. and UCF at 1:30 p.m. in the final day of the UCF Knights Classic in Orlando.

Game 1: Stetson 3, LA Tech 2

Tech led until the bottom of the fifth inning when a two-out, three-run pinch hit home run proved to be the difference in the game.

Lady Techster starter Preslee Gallaway appeared to be in complete control. Gallaway allowed just three hits through the first 4.2 innings of action before a two-out double and then single put runners on the corners for the Hatters. Pinch hitter Devin Lewis then sent the first pitch she saw over the right field wall for a three-run blast, giving Stetson the 3-2 lead.

Tech, which outhit Stetson 9-7 in the game. Struggled to drive home base runners all game. The Lady Techsters scored both of their runs on double steal attempts, one in the top of the second inning and one in the top of the third inning. Tech stranded seven runners on base, including two in the final inning with the game on the line.

Morgan Turkoly (2-4, SB), Mary Terral (2-3, run), Lindsay Edwards (2-3, run), Sloane Stewartson (1-3) and Bayli Simon (1-3) all recorded hits in the loss.

Gallaway (3-2) took the loss, allowing three runs on seven hits with one walk and five strikeouts in the complete-game performance.

Game 2: LA Tech 8, Stetson 0 (5 innings)

Jazlyn Crowder recorded three hits and drove home three runs and Krystal De La Cruz worked out of some early inning trouble to pitch five scoreless innings in leading LA Tech to the 8-0 win in game two.

De La Cruz (4-0) allowed only two hits and three walks but hit a batter and saw her defense commit three errors as Stetson stranded eight runners on base. The Eagle Pass, Texas, native struck out three and worked out of bases loaded, one out jams in both the first and second innings to keep the Hatters off the scoreboard.

Tech took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Sloane Stewartson drew a bases loaded walk, one of three walks issued in the frame by Stetson starter Jaime Tino. The Lady Techsters upped the advantage in the second inning on an RBI groundout by Morgan Turkoly and an RBI single by Crowder.

The Lady Techsters blew the game open in the fourth inning, plating five runs on four hits. Crowder drove home two more runs with a single, while Mary Terral added a sacrifice fly RBI and Marilyn Rizzato recorded an RBI double. Tech scored its final run on a successful double steal.

Crowder (3-3, 3 RBI, 2 runs, 2 SB), Edwards (1-2, run), Turkoly (1-4, run, RBI, SB), Rizzato (1-4, run, RBI, SB), Simon (1-2, 2 runs, SB), Berkley Calapp (run), Terral (RBI), Kailey Anderson (SB) and Stewartson (RBI) led Tech offensively.