LA Tech takes two from Charlotte, extends win softball streak to seven

RUSTON, La. – Preslee Gallaway and Krystal De La Cruz were both solid in the circle leading Louisiana Tech to a Conference USA doubleheader sweep over Charlotte Saturday at the Lady Techster Softball Complex.

Tech (29-9, 9-2 C-USA) extended its winning streak to seven games while Charlotte (11-25, 3-11) dropped its fourth straight contest. The two teams are set for the third and final game of the series. Game time for Sunday has been moved up to 10 a.m. due to the forecast.

Game 1: LA Tech 10, Charlotte 3

Morgan Turkoly the 20^th home run of her career, Jazlyn Crowder continued to swing a hot bat with three more hits and Lindsay Edwards drove home three runs as LA Tech defeated Charlotte 10-3.

Gallaway (13-6) picked up the win in the circle, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out six in the complete-game performance. Gallaway’s lone mistake came in the top of the sixth with two outs when Charlotte DP Katie Manring hit a three-run shot over the right centerfield wall to close the Tech lead to 6-3.

After two and a half scoreless innings, Tech plated three runs in the bottom of the third inning. Bayli Simon and Marilyn Rizzato walked and move over to second and third on a sacrifice bunt by Berkley Calapp. Kimmie Atienza then drove home the first run with an RBI groundout to shortstop, giving Tech a 1-0 lead.

Turkoly and Crowder then followed with back-to-back RBI singles, upping the lead to 3-0.

Tech added three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning. With one out, Turkoly lined a solo shot over the right field wall for her third of the season and the 20^th of her career. Crowder singled and Zoe Hicks and Sloane Stewartson both walked to load the bases before Edwards drove home two runs with a single through the left side.

Tech led 6-0 until Manring cut the lead in half with her team-leading eighth home run of the season in the top of the sixth.

The Lady Techster bats answered in the bottom of the sixth, scoring four runs on four hits and one error. With the bases loaded and one out, Stewartson hit a fly ball to left field that was dropped, allowing two runs to score. Edwards then followed with an RBI single and Bayli Simon plated another run on an RBI groundout.

Game 2: LA Tech 5, Charlotte 2

Krystal De La Cruz struck out a season-high nine batters and Tech plated five runs in the bottom of the first inning and made them stand up.

Tech chased Charlotte starter Carson Pace from the game early. After an error by the 49ers shortstop and a walk put runners on first and second, Jazlyn Crowder reached on a bunt single to load the bases. Zoe Hicks then singled through the left side to drive home two runs while a third run scored on a throw.

One out later, Lindsay Edwards double to left centerfield, plating Hicks and making the score 4-0. Edwards then scored on a passed ball for the fifth run of the frame.

Charlotte reliever Maggie Cannon came on with one out in the bottom of the first and held the Tech offense in check, allowing just two hits and four walks while striking out seven over 5.2 innings of work.

Charlotte plated runs in the fourth and sixth innings against De La Cruz, but the Eagle Pass, Texas, native picked up her eighth win of the season with a solid performance, despite an hour long lightning delay heading into the top of the sixth inning.