NEWARK, Del. – Louisiana Tech outlasted New Mexico State, 3-1, in 11 innings Thursday afternoon at Delaware Softball Diamond to stay alive in the Conference USA Championship Tournament. LA Tech moves to 31-24 after the victory.

The win eliminated the Aggies from the tournament and advanced the Bulldogs to the next round, where they will face Western Kentucky on Thursday.

Bradi Gallaway led the Bulldogs offensively, going 3-for-5 with a double and a run scored, while Allie Furr and Gracie Flores each added two hits. Flores recorded Tech's lone extra-base hit outside of Gallaway's double with a triple in the third inning. Reagan Marchant also tallied a pair of hits and scored the go-ahead run in the 11th.

In the circle, Laney Johnson tossed four scoreless innings in the start, allowing three hits with one strikeout. Bryannah Campos earned the win after throwing seven innings in relief, surrendering just one run on two hits while helping Tech hold NMSU scoreless over the final six frames. The Bulldogs also turned three double plays defensively in the victory.
 
The two teams traded scoreless innings early as both pitching staffs controlled the game. LA Tech stranded runners in scoring position in both the first and third innings, while the Bulldogs turned a pair of double plays defensively to keep the Aggies off the board through four innings.

The Aggies broke the scoreless tie in the fifth when Skye Johnson led off the inning with a solo home run to left field.

Tech answered an inning later. Gallaway opened the sixth with a single before Marchant delivered a base hit that moved Gallaway to third. Rosalie Dufresne followed with an RBI groundout to tie the game at 1-1.

The Bulldogs and Aggies remained tied through the next four innings as Campos kept New Mexico State in check in relief. Campos tossed six shutout innings, allowing just two hits while striking out two.

The Bulldogs finally broke through in the 11th inning. Marchant started the frame with a single and later scored on an RBI base hit from Aleah Brooks after advancing to third on a sacrifice bunt and wild pitch. Later in the inning, Furr added an insurance run with an RBI single to score Jina Baffuto and extend the lead to 3-1.

Campos closed the door in the bottom half of the inning, retiring two of the final three batters after a two-out walk to secure the victory for the Bulldogs.

QUOTABLES
Head coach Josh Taylor
Coach Taylor's Postgame Comments.…

" We showed a ton of grit tonight! Laney [Johnson] gave us an incredible start and Bryannah [Campos] was fantastic. They both allowed our offense to find a way to get them some runs. We were electric on defense all night. [Bradi] Gallaway proved why I believe she is the best short stop in CUSA. I am really proud of our toughness tonight and how we found a way to get it done. We will have to be tough and gritty again tomorrow."

NEXT UP
LA Tech will take on Western Kentucky in an elimination game on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. CT.