MONROE, La. –  Senior Audrey Pickett made the decision to come back for a fifth and final season with Louisiana Tech.
           
New head coach Josh Taylor is glad she did.
           
Pickett threw a complete-game two-hitter and freshman Sierra Sacco drove in the go-ahead run with a double with two outs in the top of the seventh to lift the Lady Techsters to a 2-1 win over Morehead State in the first game of the Best of the Bayou at the Ouachita Sports Complex Friday.

"Audrey was fantastic today," said Taylor. "She did a great job competing for us in the circle. She had command of all her pitches and was able to induce soft contact. It was great to see a fifth-year senior step up and lead this team."
           
Tech (1-1) fell 8-0 to SIU-Edwardsville in the second game of the day.
           
Pickett pitched her team out of a first inning jam, surrendering just one unearned run in the frame despite two infield errors and a third strike wild pitch. Her effort gave her team a chance.
           
Tech outhit Morehead State 7-2 in the contest, recording six of those hits in the first four innings of action.
           
Sophomore Brooke Diaz had the big blow, launching a solo home run to straight away centerfield to lead off the top of the fourth inning, tying the game at 1-1.
           
Tech had a golden opportunity to score in the top of the third. With two outs and Caroline Easom at first base, Kara Goff lined a double to centerfield, but Easom was thrown out at home for the final out of the frame.
           
With Pickett cruising – she gave up a bloop single to shallow center to lead off the first and an infield single in the fourth – the game remained tied.
           
In the top of the seventh inning, sophomore Jordyn Manning fouled off a number of pitches and with a full count, drew a leadoff walk. Manning moved to second on a sacrifice bunt by Amanda Gonzalez and then following a strikeout, Sacco delivered the run-scoring double down the left field line, scoring Manning.
           
Pickett worked a perfect seventh inning to record the win. She allowed just one unearned run on two hits and no walks while striking out seven batters.
           
Sacco and Lindsay Edwards each recorded two hits.
           
Game two didn't have a lot of highlights for the Lady Techsters as SIU-Edwardsville scored three in the first and four more in the second to jump out to a commanding lead before coasting to the win.
           
Tech failed to record a hit in the game, striking out 10 times in the five-inning affair. The Techsters did draw four walks.
           
Emma Hutchinson got the start in the circle, allowing seven runs – only three earned – on six hits and one walk in 1.1 innings. Pickett came on in relief and tossed the final 3.2 innings, allowing just one unearned run on one hit with three strikeouts.
 
"As we continue to move through the 2022 season, it will be imperative that we continue to learn and get better with each success and each failure," said Taylor. "There is a lot to learn from in the first day of competition, which saw us have timely hitting and lockdown pitching.

"It also showed us many areas in which we can still improve. Overall, it was a great day for us to start to discover who we are and what LA Tech softball is all about. We are excited about getting back on the field tomorrow."

Tech faces Stephen F. Austin at 3 p.m. on Saturday before closing out the weekend Sunday with games against Southern (11:15 a.m.) and Mississippi Valley State (1:30 p.m.)