BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Less than 12 hours after they walked off the field with a run-rule win over Middle Tennessee on Thursday night, Louisiana Tech returned to Mary Bowers Field early Friday.

Running on very little sleep but plenty of coffee, Tech (43-14) used a two-run home run from Jazlyn Crowder and a two-run single by Bayli Simon to defeat Marshall (38-19) and advance to the 2019 Conference USA championship game.

"This group had a lot of big goals before the start of this season," said Tech head coach Mark Montgomery. "They have already accomplished a number of them. 40 win season. Regular season title. But they want more, and in all honesty, the deserve more.

"I think with 43 wins and a regular season title and advancing to the title game of this tournament, we should be in the NCAA Regionals now; regardless of what happens tomorrow. This group has done enough. But we don't want to leave it in anyone's hands. We are one win away from two more of our goals: a league tournament title and an NCAA Regional. I'm so proud of this group."

The title contest is scheduled for Saturday at noon and Tech will face the survivor of the elimination bracket (North Texas, Marshall, Middle Tennessee).

Friday mornings win took on an eerily familiar tone early to the victory the night before, but in a good way for the Lady Techsters. The first three batters in the bottom of the first inning for Tech recorded the exact same result from the night before win over Middle Tennessee.

Kimmie Atienza was robbed of a base hit by a diving catch by Marshall right fielder Abigail Estrada, just like Middle Tennessee right fielder Sydney Heath did the night before.

Morgan Turkoly then singled sharply up the middle (see Thursday night). And finally, 2019 Conference USA Player of the Year Jazlyn Crowder hit a two-run home run – this time over the right centerfield wall.

Tech led 2-0 after one and would build a 5-0 lead before holding on in the top of the seventh inning. Marshall scored single runs in the fourth and fifth innings to cut the Tech lead to 5-2. Tech starter Preslee Gallaway was solid in the circle, now allowing a hit until two outs in the fourth inning.

Jenny Chapman and Krystal De La Cruz both were solid in the circle in relief of Gallaway. Chapman came on to record a huge out against Herd slugger Ally Harrell in the fifth inning. De La Cruz then worked the final 2.1 innings, allowing only one hit – although it was a heart stopper for Tech fans.

With Tech leading 5-2 in the top of the seventh and two outs, Herd freshman Mya Stevenson launched her 17^th home run of the season over the right centerfield wall. Tech's lead was down to one.

However, De La Cruz would get the final out with some help from her defense as senior infielder Berkley Calapp backhanded a hard grounder and stepped on the first base bag to end the game.

After jumping out to the early lead, Tech continued to add onto the scoreboard. Atienza recorded a two-out RBI single to right field in the bottom of the second inning, scoring pinch runner Meghan Robicheaux from second. Robicheaux swiped her second base of the year two pitches earlier.

Bayli Simon then came up big in the bottom of the third inning. Sloane Stewartson walked and Lindsay Edwards followed with a double to left center, putting runners on second and third. Simon worked the count in her favor to 3-0 and Mark Montgomery gave his sophomore shortstop the green light.

Simon lined the 3-0 pitch from Kailee Williamson to left centerfield, plating Stewartson and Edwards and upping the advantage to 5-0.