LAS CRUSES, N.M. - Louisiana Tech softball hit six home runs Saturday against New Mexico State but fell to the Aggies, 15-14 at the New Mexico State Softball Complex, dropping their second game of the series. The loss moves LA Tech to 13-9 (0-2 CUSA).
 
In a game that saw a combined 10 home runs between both teams, the Bulldogs scored 13 of their 14 runs on the long ball. Reagan Marchant and Bradi Gallaway both finished with two home runs apiece, while Gracie Flores and Aleah Brooks hit their first career home runs.
 
The Bulldogs outhit the Aggies 14-13, with 10 of those 14 hits going for extra bases. Marchant led the team with five RBI on a first-inning grand slam and a solo home run. Flores drove in four runs, three on a home run and another on a single.
 
Marchant, Gallaway, Flores, Brooks, Elena Heng and Reese Torres all registered multiple hits in the loss. Gallaway added three RBI while Brooks chipped in two. Gallaway, Marchant and Torres scored three runs apiece.
 
Laney Johnson started in the circle and gave up eight runs on nine hits with four strikeouts across 4.2 innings. Bryannah Campos pitched one inning and allowed five runs (two earned) on two hits while walking one. Allie Floyd (5-5) took the loss after allowing two runs on two hits in .1 innings.
 
The fireworks in Las Cruces started early as Heng, Bennett and Gallaway drew back-to-back-to-back walks to start the game, loading the bases for Marchant. Marchant sent one over the center field wall to make it 4-0 in the top of the first.
 
NMSU matched Tech with a grand slam in the bottom of the second to make it 4-4 after two singles and a hit by pitch to the first three batters loaded the bases, followed by a two-run home run to make it 6-4 NMSU.
 
The Bulldogs added four runs in the top of the third to take an 8-6 lead as Gallaway started the inning with a solo shot, followed by a Marchant double and a Torres walk that put two on for Flores. Flores made it 8-4 as she connected on her first career homer.
 
The Aggies got one run back in the bottom of the frame after a hit batsman came around to score on a single to make it 8-7 Tech. LA Tech added three runs on four hits in the top of the fourth to take an 11-7 lead as Heng recorded an infield single and crossed home on Gallaway's second long ball of the day, followed by a Torres triple who Flores then drove in on a single.
 
NMSU hit a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth to make it 11-8 Tech. After a scoreless fifth, the Bulldogs added three runs on four hits to take a 14-8 lead. Marchant led off the inning with a solo homer to left to make it 12-8. Torres reached on a double to right center and came around to score on a two-run home run from Brooks, the first of her young career.
 
The sixth inning proved costly for the Bulldogs as the Aggies took advantage of two errors and four hits to score seven runs and take a 15-14 lead.
 
After a strikeout to the leadoff batter, a single and a walk put two on for NMSU before another strikeout recorded the second out of the inning. A hit by pitch then loaded the bases with two outs, and a double in the next at-bat drove in two runs to cut Tech's lead to 14-10.
 
A fielding error in right field that should have ended the inning allowed two more runs to score and the batter to reach third, making it 14-12 LA Tech. A passed ball in the following at-bat allowed the runner at third to score and cut the deficit to 14-13. NMSU then tied the game at 14 with a solo home run.
 
A second fielding error at first base allowed the Aggies to continue the inning, and they capitalized with a double that brought home the go-ahead run to give NMSU a 15-14 lead.
 
LA Tech loaded the bases with one out in the top of the seventh in hopes of taking the lead but a strikeout and pop up to third would end the game and give the Aggies a seven-run comeback win.

QUOTABLES
Head coach Josh Taylor
 
Coach Taylor's Postgame Comments.…
"Our at bats were much better today, but we have to be able to put together all facets of the game. We are looking for every person on this roster to step up and play winning softball every pitch of every game."
 
NOTABLES
- Josh Taylor moves to 148-100 as head coach at LA Tech.
- LA Tech leads the all-time series 21-19.
- The Bulldogs hit six home runs, the most by a Bulldog team in a single game since May 1, 2009, when Tech hit six home runs at New Mexico State.
- Reagan Marchant hit her 23^rd and 24^th career home run and is now in sole possession of sixth all-time for the most home runs in program history.
- Reagan Marchant recorded a career-high five RBI.
- Gracie Flores and Aleah Brooks recorded their first career home runs.  
- Bradi Gallaway registered her first career multi-homer game.
- Elena Heng recorded her 10^th multi-hit game of the season, followed by Bradi Gallaway (8), Brooks and Torres (7), Marchant (5) and Flores (1).
 
NEXT UP
The Bulldogs and Aggies will finish off the series tomorrow at 12:00 p.m. CT.