RUSTON, La. – Lauren Menzina and Bre Hernandez each tossed complete-games to lead Louisiana Tech to a doubleheader sweep over UTEP Monday afternoon at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.

LA Tech won 2-0 in game one and 3-2 in game two.
 
With the two wins, LA Tech (18-24, 7-5 C-USA) won the series against the Miners (9-23, 4-12) and moved closer to securing a spot in the upcoming Conference USA Tournament in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in mid-May.

"We dominated in the circle today and played great defense behind our pitchers," said interim head coach Bianca Duran. "We didn't commit an error in either game. Lauren was lights out in the circle and Bre threw well, despite the couple of late hits in the seventh.

"We came up with some timely hits and utilized our short game and first and third plays to get an insurance run in the second game. I thought Zoe (Hicks) and Madie (Green) were big for us the entire series."

Tech will travel to Natchitoches Tuesday for a 6 p.m. non-conference match-up against Northwestern State.

Game 1: LA Tech 2, UTEP 0

Freshman Lauren Menzina got out of some early inning situations before settling down and registering her first complete-game shutout of her collegiate career.

Menzina (3-0) allowed no runs on four hits and five walks while striking out two in her second straight win in C-USA action.

UTEP had numerous opportunities in the first four innings, stranding 10 runners including twice leaving the bases loaded. All four innings, Menzina induced the final out of the frame to prevent the Miners from plating runs.

Tech took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third inning. After Kylie Neel singled and gave way to pinch runner Olivia Ellingson, Madie Green singled to left field to score the first run of the game.

The Lady Techsters added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning. Green doubled, advance to third and with two outs, scored on Amanda Gonzalez's infield single to shortstop. Tech led 2-0.

Menzina dominated over the final three innings, allowing just one base runner and retiring the final eight batters of the game.

Game 2: LA Tech 3, UTEP 2

For the third straight game, LA Tech and UTEP found themselves in a low-scoring pitcher duel as the Lady Techsters road the arm of Bre Hernandez and two-run double by Zoe Hicks in the victory.

Hernandez (7-9), who was the tough-luck loser in a 1-0 setback on Sunday evening against UTEP, dominated for almost the entire game on Monday. She picked up with win allowing, two runs on three hits and two walks with six strikeouts in the complete-game performance.

In a 0-0 game in the bottom of the third inning, Hicks came through with a two-out, two-run double off the base of the centerfield fence to plate Ellingson and Green and give Tech the 2-0 advantage.

The Lady Techsters added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth inning. With runners on first and third and two outs, Kylie Neel scored from third on a throwing error by the UTEP catcher attempting to pick her of third base. The run would prove to be the difference.

Hernandez cruised until the top of the 7^th inning. With two outs and a runner on first base, UTEP registered only its second and third hits of the game – back-to-back doubles – to plate two runs and cut the Tech lead to 3-2. However, Hernandez recorded the final out with the tying run on second to secure the win.