Hernandez, Briley lead Techsters to Sunday win at Southern Miss

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Freshman KB Briley hit her first collegiate home run and senior Bre Hernandez continued her weekend dominance leading Louisiana Tech to a 6-1 win over Southern Miss Sunday at USM Softball Complex.

With the win, Tech (22-25, 10-6 C-USA) clinched a spot in the upcoming Conference USA Tournament in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in two weeks.

Hernandez (9-9) recorded her second win of the weekend – she also had a save – allowing just one run on six hits and one walk in 7.0 innings. For the weekend, Hernandez worked 19.0 innings, allowing just two runs on 11 hits and five walk with 18 strikeouts.

Tech gave Hernandez an early lead, plating three runs in the top of the first inning. Kylie Neel scored on Tristin Court’s RBI single and Zoe Hicks raced home from third on a passed ball by the Southern Miss catcher. Briley then drove home Court on an RBI bunt single.

Southern Miss plated its lone run of the game in the bottom of the second on a two-out single by Karley Nichols, cutting the Tech lead to 3-1.

Briley got the run right back in the top of the third, driving a pitch deep over the left field fence for her first home run of her college career. It was her first extra base hit of the year … but not her last in the game as she added a double in the top of the fifth inning.

Hicks singled home pinch runner Olivia Ellingson in the fourth and then Court recorded her second RBI on a sacrifice fly to centerfield, scoring Madie Green.

Briley (3-4, HR, 2 RBI), Hicks (2-3, RBI) and Court (2-3, 2 RBI) all recorded multi-hit performances as Tech won for the 11^th time in its last 13 games in Hattiesburg.

The Lady Techsters will close out their regular season this weekend when they host Conference USA leader North Texas Friday through Sunday.