BATON ROUGE, La. – Slowly but surely, Josh Taylor is seeing a change in his team.

The first year Louisiana Tech head coach saw his Lady Techsters play almost flawless softball in defeating Central Connecticut State 8-0 and Troy 6-2 Saturday at Tiger Park.

"I'm starting to see flashes of real confidence," said Taylor. "Not that fake stuff. But these kids are starting to really believe in themselves as individuals and as a collective unit. It's exciting."

Tech (14-7) recorded its most impressive win of the young season in the 6-2 victory over Troy (13-4), a Trojans team that has already posted wins over Top 25 programs in LSU, Ohio State and Ole Miss.

The Lady Techsters were one out away from their second shutout of the day when back-to-back infield errors allowed two unearned runs to cross. But graduate Audrey Pickett induced a ground ball and senior Lindsay Edwards made a nice play on the short-hop to record the final out.

 "We still have moments where we let the game get too fast," said Taylor. "But you can see those moments are fewer and farther between. I told Caroline (Easom) and Amanda (Gonzalez) after the game that as a middle infielder you have to have thick skin. I played middle infield. I know. Things happen.

"But the good part of it was Lindsay made a tough play look routine for the final out. She picked up her teammates. She had one of those moments a few weeks ago. So they are all learning and its exciting to see."
               
Pickett (9-2) was once again in complete control in the circle. She allowed the two unearned runs on just six hits – all singles – and just one walk in the complete-game effort.
               
And her teammates gave her some run support.
               
Tech plated three runs in the second inning with Gonzalez and Easom recording RBIs and the Lady Techsters chasing Troy ace Leanna Johnson. Easom made it 4-0 with a sacrifice fly in the 4^th inning and then the Tech second baseman came through in the sixth with a two-out, two-run single.
               
"Those last two runs were huge for us," said Taylor. "They made the situation we sort of created for ourselves in the seventh with the two errors a little less stressful. It was 6-2 instead of 4-2. Caroline has been having really quality at bats for us."
               
Freshman Sierra Sacco had quite the day for Tech. The rookie was 6-for-7 at the plate with four runs scored, two RBI and 3-for-3 in stolen bases.
               
Sacco helped the Techsters to the 8-0 win over Central Connecticut State in the first game of the day as Tech run-ruled the Blue Devils less than 24 hours after escaping with a 3-2 win in the first meeting of the weekend.
               
Lauren Menzina (2-2) got the win in the circle, working 4.0 scoreless innings while allowing just two hits and three walks. Emma Hutchinson pitched a perfect inning of relief with two strikeouts.
               
Madie Green was perfect at the plate in the win, going 3-for-3. Green, Sacco and Easom all had two RBI each in the victory.
               
Tech will face Troy (9:30 a.m.) and LSU (12 p.m.) Sunday with the finale game being televised on the SEC Network.