RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech used a two-run bottom of the seventh inning to record a come-from-behind win over Tarleton State in a back-and-forth affair Saturday evening at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.

Tech (4-6) lost its first game of the day, falling 3-1 to Baylor.

"The biggest takeaway from today was our fight and our playing to win mentality," said interim head coach Bianca Duran. "The team came together after we got hit hard and executed in key situations down the stretch. I'm really proud of us finding a way to win. We utilized our short game in the Baylor game to give ourselves a chance. Then we came into the Tarleton game and scored some early runs. But even after we fell behind late, we found a way to score the winning runs in the final at bat. That showed a lot of fight by our team."

Game 1: Baylor 3, LA Tech 1

Less than five hours after walking across the stage at graduation, LA Tech senior Audrey Pickett recorded an impressive performance in the circle in a 3-1 loss to the Bears (8-3).

Pickett worked 6.0 strong innings in the circle, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks while striking out four in the tough luck loss. Baylor scored all three of its runs in the top of the fifth inning on a hit by pitch, back-to-back singles and a double – this after only registering one base runner (and no hits) over the first four innings.

Tech had a golden opportunity in the bottom of the fifth inning. Brooke Diaz singled and then Bailey Wright and Jordyn Manning both laid down bunt singles to load the bases with one out. After a fielders choice force out at home recorded the second out, Olivia Ellingson laced a hard ground ball that appeared to be headed to centerfield for a hit.

However, Baylor starter Gia Rodoni got a glove on it to knock it down in the circle and fired to first to end the threat.

Tech mounted another rally in the bottom of the sixth inning. Tanjala Smith laid down a bunt single and moved to second when Diaz was hit by a pitch. Tristin Court then drove Smith home with a bloop single to right field, making the score 3-1.

The Lady Techsters had one last attempt in the bottom of the seventh. Ellingson doubled with two outs to bring the tying run to the plate, but Rodoni got a ground ball out to end the game.

Game 2: LA Tech 9, Tarleton State 8

Madie Green recorded four hits and scored the game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning on a throwing error by the Tarleton State infield as the Lady Techsters rallied for the win.

Trailing 8-7 heading to the bottom of the seventh, Zoe Hicks roped a single through the right side to lead the frame off and then Green laced a double to the right field fence to put runners on first and second.

Tarleton State shortstop Morgan Melford then took an infield hit away from Smith with a diving catch to record the first out. Amanda Gonzalez then tied the game at eight with an RBI ground out to Medford, also advancing Green to third on the play.

With two outs, Court grounded to Medford at shortstop but the throw to first was wide of the bag allowing Green to score and Tech to register the walk-off win.

Freshman Emma Hutchinson got the start in the circle and worked 4.0 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks before exiting the game in the top of the fifth inning with Tech leading 7-2. However, Tarleton scored four runs in the frame highlighted by a three-run home run by Destiny Crumpley to close the deficit to 7-6.

Freshman Lauren Menzina came on in relief following Crumpley's three-run shot and battled through the final 3.0 innings of action. Menzina surrendered a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning, but recorded five strikeouts over her three innings of action to give the Lady Techsters a chance.

Menzina (1-0) picked up the win, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks while striking out five.

Green (4-4, 2 runs, RBI), Easom (2-3, run, RBI), Hicks (2-4, run, RBI), Ellingson (1-4, run, RBI), Smith (1-4, run), Court (1-4, 2 RBI), KB Briley (1-3, run, RBI) and Gonzalez (RBI, run) led Tech offensively.

Tech will return to action Sunday at 11 a.m. when they host Baylor in its final game of the weekend. Baylor and Tarleton are slated to also play at 1:30 p.m.