MOBILE, Ala. – The Louisiana Tech softball team split a pair of one-run contests on Saturday afternoon, defeating Evansville 4-3 and falling to Austin Peay by a 2-3 final on the second day of the Jaguar Classic.
 
The Techsters (2-6) will conclude action on Mobile on Sunday morning, taking on Austin Peay in the tournament's finale at 10 a.m.
 
Game One Recap
In their first matchup of the day vs. Austin Peay, the Lady Techsters fell behind early in the first inning, as Governors' center-fielder Bailey Shorter began the scoring with a one-out RBI single to left field off Tech starting pitcher Hannah Koenig.
 
However, the Techsters struck back in the top of the third frame, as the top of the order provided the necessary spark. Leadoff hitter Bayli Simon began the rally with a single through the left side, and moved into scoring position after a successful sacrifice bunt from Bailey Wright and an infield single from freshman Jordyn Manning. With runners at the corners, sophomore Lindsay Edwards lifted a fly ball to center, deep enough for Simon to tag and tie the game at one.
 
Koenig successfully navigated through the bottom of the third, inducing a double play in a quick shutdown frame.
 
Then in the fourth, the Lady Techsters took their first lead of the day as Madie Green's sacrifice fly to left field successfully plated Meghan Robicheaux, who reached via a one-out walk.
 
Working now with a 2-1 lead, Koenig worked painless fourth and fifth innings, allowing just one baserunner over the two scoreless frames.
 
However, after the Tech offense was unable to generate cushion, the Governors struck back in the bottom of the sixth. Koenig allowed a leadoff single, and was subsequently replaced by senior Jenny Chapman. Chapman worked around some traffic on the basepaths and recorded two outs, but a bases-loaded HBP with two away allowed Austin Peay to even the score at two.
 
In the final frame, the Techsters had an opportunity to take a lead with a runner at third and one out, but were unable to cash in on the chance.
 
In the bottom half of the seventh, Austin Peay's Lexi Osowski provided the heroics with a walk-off double to left center field.
 
Edwards led the Techsters with a pair of base hits and an RBI, while Koenig allowed just two runs over her five-inning start.
 
Game Two Recap
 
In their second contest of the day, the Techsters utilized a key three-run fifth inning, en route to a 4-3 victory over Evansville, snapping a six-game skid in the process.
 
Tech was the aggressor early in the contest, plating the first run of the game in the bottom of the second inning after a pair of throwing errors on a Robicheaux sacrifice bunt allowed Tech catcher Marilyn Rizzato to motor home from second base.
 
In the top of the third, Evansville plated a run of its own via an RBI double to left center from second baseman Jessica Fehr.
 
However, Tech starting pitcher Bre Hernandez rallied around the adversity, and retired the side in order in both the fourth and fifth innings.
 
Meanwhile, in the bottom of the fifth, the Tech offense was able to take back its lead courtesy of some timely late hitting. Hernandez helped her own cause, leading off the inning with a single to left. Pinch runner Lexi Pope then moved into scoring position after a successful sacrifice bunt and eventually scored on a wild pitch, giving Tech the lead back at 2-1.
 
After a Jordyn Manning walk, Conference USA Preseason Player of the Year Lindsay Edwards came through in a big way, clubbing a two-run home run deep to left center field, extending the Tech lead out to 4-1.
 
Evansville showed some late resiliency drawing back to within one, but Tech pitcher Audrey Pickett picked up her first save of the year, stranding the tying run at third as she struck out Haley Woolf, preserving the Techsters second win of the young season.
 
The home run for Edwards was just one of two Tech base hits on the day, as the club capitalized on four Evansville errors while drawing five free passes (four walks, one HBP). Hernandez improved to 2-1 in the circle, while the save from Pickett was her first.