Louisiana Tech dugs itself an early hole and came up one hit short of completing a late-game rally as the Lady Techsters fell 6-5 Saturday to UTSA at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.

Tech (21-15, 6-5) trailed 5-0 after an inning and a half before rallying to close the deficit to 6-5. The Lady Techsters loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom of the seventh but Kylie Neel's hard ground ball in the 5-6 hole was snagged by UTSA third baseman >>> who recorded the final out of the game.

"We simply can't dig ourselves that kind of hole that early," said Josh Taylor. "This is the second straight Saturday we have done that. And both times we have fought to get back into games, but both times we have come up one run short.

"We didn't execute very cleanly today. We struggled in the circle early, we left too many runners on base and we made some costly mistakes on the base paths and in the field.

For the second straight Sunday we will have to come out and see if we can rebound and win a series."

Emma Hutchinson (5-6) took the loss, allowing three runs on three hits in one-third of an inning before being relieved by Lauren Menzina, who worked the final 6.2 innings. Menzina allowed three runs – two earned – on seven hits and no walks.

Offensively, Tech recorded seven hits, including two by Sierra Sacco. Brooke Diaz and Madie Green each recorded doubles while the Lady Techsters drew eight walks in the game.

However, the Lady Techsters stranded 10 runners on base in the game.

The two teams will play the rubber game Sunday at 1 p.m.