ORLANDO, Fla. – Almost 24 hours after the first pitch, Preslee Gallaway retired UCF's Aubrey Johnson on a fly ball to centerfield for the final out and Louisiana Tech snapped the Knight's six-game winning streak with a 3-0 victory at UCF Softball Complex Thursday.

In a game that started Wednesday afternoon but was halted with one out in the top of the fourth inning due to rain, Tech (13-3) came back on Thursday and protected its two-run lead. Gallaway recorded her second straight shutout and Morgan Turkoly came up with a huge two-out RBI double in the top of the seventh to provide insurance.

"Preslee has pitched great on UCF's field," said Tech head coach Mark Montgomery. "I hope it continues this weekend. I'm hoping it's a home away from home for her. She not only pitched great vs. UCF but also against Penn State.

"She got a little hyped up early today and elevated a couple of pitches. But then she settled down and kept the ball lower in the zone. She continued to dominate. I am extremely proud of her and her performance."

Gallaway (5-2) picked up her fifth win of the season, allowing just four hits and no walks while striking out seven in the complete-game effort. She needed just 87 pitches to record the win.

With Tech leading 2-0 in the top of the seventh inning, sophomore Kailey Anderson was hit by a pitch with two outs and then scored all the way from first base on a double by Turkoly over the UCF left fielders head. It was Turkoly's second hit of the game.

"The run was huge," said Montgomery. "With only a two-run lead, one runner gets on and all of a sudden the tying run comes to the plate in the seventh. That's how Stetson beat us. They didn't do anything all day against Preslee, but then all of a sudden the get a couple of base runners and she elevates one pitch and it leaves the park and we lose.

"A three-run lead is better than two. A four-run lead is better than three. The tying run never came to the plate in the seventh because of Morgan's hit and that run. It absolutely allowed Preslee to pitch more relaxed and challenge the hitters."

Tech, which saw a 2-0 lead against UCF slip away in a 5-2 loss to the Knight's on Sunday, took a 2-0 lead against UCF ace Alea White on Wednesday, plating a pair of runs in the top of the first inning. Lindsay Edwards and Turkoly led the game off with back-to-back singles and then Jazlyn Crowder drove Edwards home with a single up the middle.

Two outs later, Bayli Simon walked to load the bases and then Mary Terral drew a walk to force home Turkoly with the second run of the frame. It would be all the Gallaway would need.
UCF recorded four hits – three doubles – against Gallaway but never got more than one runner on base in any inning.

Tech returns to action Friday in the first day of the Knights Classic as it will face Dartmouth (11 a.m.) and Toledo (1:30 p.m.). The Lady Techsters will then wrap up the road trip Saturday with contests against No. 1 ranked Florida State (2 p.m.) and a third match-up against UCF (5:30 p.m.).