YOUNGSVILLE, La. – Amanda Gonzalez and Lindsay Edwards homered as Louisiana Tech split a Friday pair of games in the opening day of the Mardi Gras Mambo hosted by Southeastern.

Gonzalez homered, Brooke Diaz drove in three runs and Audrey Pickett recorded a run-rule shortened complete-game shutout in Tech's 10-2 win in five innings over St. Thomas (Minn.) University in the first game of the day. Tech (7-5) fell 4-1 to Portland State in the second game of the day.

Tech fell behind 1-0 in the first game of the day but a Diaz single in the bottom of the inning tied the game at 1-1. The Lady Techsters led 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth inning when Gonzalez hit a two-run home run over the left field wall to start a four-run frame.

Caroline Easom ended the scoring in the inning with an RBI single.
               
Leading 7-2 in the fifth, Diaz drove home her third run of the game with an RBI single and then Edwards ended the game with a two-run double as Tech completed the run-rule victory.
               
Katelin Cooper scored four runs.
               
Pickett (4-2) got the win, allowing two runs – one earned – on five hits and three walks and four strikeouts.
               
In the second game of the day, the Lady Techsters couldn't overcome a sloppy top of the second inning when Portland State (7-5) scored three runs on just two singles as three walks and an error ignited the inning for the Pilots.
               
Edwards led off the bottom of the fourth inning with a solo home run – her first of the season – cutting the deficit to 3-1.
               
Portland State added an unearned run in the top of the fifth.
               
Sierra Sacco and Cooper each singled with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to bring the tying run to the plate, but a strikeout ended the game.
               
Lauren Menzina recorded a strong performance in relief, allowing just one unearned run on three hits and three walks with five strikeouts in 6.0 innings of action.