RUSTON, La. – Madie Green's grand slam home run capped a five-run first inning and Lauren Menzina tossed a complete-game in the circle to lead Louisiana Tech to a 6-1 win over Southern Miss Saturday afternoon at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.
               
With the victory, Tech (37-18, 17-6 C-USA) stayed in a two-way tie with North Texas (17-6 C-USA) for first place in the league standings.

Tech will play its final regular season game Sunday at 1 p.m. at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field as part of Senior Day Weekend. A win by the Lady Techsters would give the program the 2022 Conference USA regular season title.

"We are playing free and loose right now," said head coach Josh Taylor. "This group has a lot of confidence as they should. Today was just another game. Tomorrow is just the next game. We will come out and have fun. That's what we have been doing the last month."

For the second straight day, Tech put pressure on USM starter Morgan Leinstock in the first. However, unlike Friday's game when the Lady Techsters failed to plate a run in a bases loaded first inning, this time they came through.

Sierra Sacco and Amanda Gonzalez singled to put runners on the corners and Caroline Easom then drove a single to centerfield to plate the first run. Brooke Diaz then hit a ball back to Leinstock who threw it into the ground at third to load the bases.

Green then worked a full count before crushing the 3-2 pitch deep over the left centerfield wall for her 11^th home run of the season and a 5-0 Tech lead.

"It was another well-pitched, well-played game by our team," said Taylor. "Obviously Madie's home run was huge to get the momentum on our side early. We had a lot of other opportunities to score and I told our players in the postgame huddle that we won despite me mismanaging some of those situations."

USM threatened in the third with runners on second and third and one out and the three- and four-hole hitters coming to the plate. However, Menzina induced a ground ball back to the circle for the second out and then an infield pop up to end the frame.

"Lauren was solid once again in the circle," said Taylor. "She didn't get into too many situations where she had to throw high-stress pitches, but when she did, she was able to get the outs. I'm proud of our effort and execution today."

Tech added a run in the bottom of the fifth inning as Lindsay Edwards led off with her eighth home run of the season, a solo shot to left field making it 6-0.

USM plated a run in the top of the sixth on a two-out solo home run by Hannah Borden to right centerfield.

Menzina worked a seamless seventh inning to close the door and pick up the win, allowing just one run on six hits and one walk with four strikeouts.

Easom (3-4, run, RBI), Sacco (2-4, run) and Gonzalez (2-3, run) each recorded multi-hit games while Green (1-3, HR, 4 RBI) had the big blast.

Tech has won 11 straight home games and 18 of its last 19 at Dr. Billy Bundrick Field.