DENTON, Texas – Lindsay Edwards recorded four hits and Lauren Menzina and Emma Hutchinson were impressive in the circle leading Louisiana Tech to a 9-3 win over West Division leader North Texas Friday night at Lovelace Stadium.

Tech (28-16, 8-6 C-USA) never trailed in the game and handed North Texas (25-9, 13-4) just its fourth loss in 17 C-USA games this season.

Menzina (4-5) got the start in the circle, working 5.0 innings while allowing three runs – only two earned – on six hits and one walk while striking out two in picking up the win. Hutchinson worked the final 2.0 innings allowing just one hit.

Tech took an early 1-0 lead in the first inning on a ball off the bat of Caroline Easom that was ruled an error, scoring Amanda Gonzalez from second base. North Texas tied the game in the bottom of the frame on back-to-back errors by the Tech infield.

The Lady Techsters responded in the second inning on an RBI double by Jordyn Manning, scoring Edwards. Tech added two more runs on a throwing error by the North Texas shortstop as the Lady Techsters led 4-1.

Tech's lead remained 4-1 until the top of the fifth inning. Edwards singled up the middle with two outs, scoring Madie Green and then one batter later Manning doubled to right centerfield, driving home two more runs.

North Texas cut the deficit to 7-3 in the bottom of the fifth on a pair of solo home runs.

In the top of the seventh inning, Tech added some insurance as Green hit her eighth home run of the season – a solo shot – and then Edwards scored from third on a wild pitch.

Hutchinson worked around an error in the bottom of the seventh to seal the victory.

Tech and North Texas will play the rubber game of the series Saturday at 1 p.m. on ESPN+.