RUSTON, La. – Anyone who heard Josh Taylor's postgame talk to his team Friday night would have thought Louisiana Tech had just lost the game.

His message was as clear as the bright lights on the scoreboard at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field showed a 9-1 Lady Techster win over UAB.

This team can be better.

Tech (30-17, 10-6 C-USA) overcame a sluggish start and utilized a couple of big innings late to run-rule the Blazers (21-19, 9-6) in the series opener between the two programs.

"I didn't like how we came out and started the game," said Taylor. "It was unacceptable. We lacked energy. We lacked focus. We lacked a lot of things that in this type of series this last in the year you can't be without. We were fortunate to be down only one run.

"Now I'm proud of how we picked it up over the last few innings. We started to get some clutch hits and we put some crooked numbers up on the board. But if we want to win a championship – which I think every one of these players wants to do – we can't start games like we started this one tonight. That's the message."

UAB grabbed the early 1-0 lead in the top of the second inning on a two-out RBI single by leadoff hitter Bella Wiggins down the right field line.

Blazers starter Sarah Cespedes blanked Tech through the first three innings, working around a leadoff double by centerfielder Sierra Sacco in the first.

However, Tech tied the game in the bottom of the fourth on a one-out double by Madie Green to left field, scoring Caroline Easom who had singled and advanced to second on a passed ball.

The fifth inning saw Tech send nine batters to the plate, plating three runs while also stranding the bases loaded. Easom drove home a run on a ground out and Brooke Diaz singled to right field to plate a second run. Lindsay Edwards then drove home the third run with a single to shortstop as Tech led 4-1.

Kylie Neel opened the floodgates in the sixth, leading off the frame with a line drive home run over the left centerfield fence to up the lead to 5-1. Tech loaded the bases following the home run and Edwards recorded another RBI on a hit by pitch.

Katelin Cooper then ended the game with a bases clearing triple – her fourth of the year – to right centerfield.

Audrey Pickett (20-5) picked up her 20th victory of the year, allowing one run on six hits and two walks in 6.0 innings of action.

Sacco (3-4, 2 runs), Cooper (2-3, 3 RBI), Edwards (1-3, 2 RBI), Amanda Gonzalez (2-4, run), Green(2-4, RBI) and Neel (1-2, HR, 2 runs) led Tech's offensive attack.

Tech has won nine of its last 11 games with four of those wins coming by run-rule fashion.

The two teams will play the second game of the series Saturday at 2 p.m.