HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Bre Hernandez struck out a career-high 14 batters and Kylie Neel singled home the eventual game-winning run with two outs in the bottom of the 11^th to lead Louisiana Tech to its second straight marathon victory.

Tech (20-24, 8-5 C-USA) defeated Southern Miss 2-1 in 11 innings Friday evening at the USM Softball Complex just three nights after claiming a 15-inning victory in a midweek over Northwestern State.

Hernandez was the difference for Tech.

While the Lady Techsters ran themselves out of some early innings, Hernandez kept Southern Miss in check, surrendering only a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning to USM designated player Terrica Williams.

Hernandez (8-9) picked up the win, working 11.0 innings while allowing just one run on five hits and three walks and the 14 strikeouts. She threw 176 pitches.

Tech took an early lead, although it could have been more. Neel opened the game with a single and moved to third on Lindsay Edwards bunt single with Edwards advancing to second on the play.

Madie Green followed with a sharp single through the left side to plate Neel. However, Edwards was thrown out at home trying to score from second for the first out of the inning. It was just the first of a number of outs on the base paths that the Techsters made during the night.

Following Williams home run in the fourth, neither team could score. USM pitcher Morgan Leinstock worked out of some trouble in numerous innings although LA Tech failed to execute at times when it had the opportunity to retake the lead.

Leinstock (5-6) allowed two runs on 12 hits and four walks while striking out five in 11.0 innings. She threw 184 pitches in the contest.

With the game tied at 1-1 in the top of the 11^th, Manning tripled to right centerfield with two outs. Neel then followed with a single to left field, plating Manning with the go-ahead run.

Hernandez worked a 1-2-3 inning in the bottom of the 11^th to seal the win.

Neel led Tech with three hits while Edwards, Amanda Gonzalez, Manning and Tristin Court each recorded two hits in the win.

It marks the first time since 1986 that Louisiana Tech has played back-to-back games of 10 innings or more.

Tech and Southern Miss will play a 1 p.m. doubleheader on Saturday before wrapping up the series Sunday.