LA Tech upsets No. 17 Auburn, downs South Alabama in softball

GULF SHORES, Ala. – Louisiana Tech head coach Mark Montgomery said during the past month that if senior Krystal De La Cruz returned to the form of her sophomore season the Lady Techsters could go from good to great.

If De La Cruz’s performance Saturday is any indication, the needle is pointing towards great.

The Eagle Pass, Texas, native held 17^th-ranked Auburn in check for six innings and reigning Conference USA Pitcher of the Year Preslee Gallaway came on in the seventh to record the final two outs leading Louisiana Tech (4-0) to a 2-1 win over the Tigers in Gulf Shores.

Gallaway picked up her second save of the season, just hours after tossing a complete-game shutout in a 2-0 victory over South Alabama.

“The Auburn pitcher is their ace and is legit,” said Montgomery. “She had an amazing drop ball. All of those discouraging days in practice of trying to hit against the machine paid off for us today. All of a sudden we were putting balls in play from the first time through the order. Then the second time through we were hitting solid grounds balls. And the third time through we hit line drives.

“Preslee was lights out against South Alabama. Lights out. She was in total control. She looked like the dominate Conference USA pitcher that she is. It was fantastic to see her work like that.

“Krystal’s effort against Auburn was nothing short of spectacular. She wore out a little bit at the end, but match-up wise we did right thing by starting her in this game. It was the right call. She kept the ball down, and the drop curve was on fire. They couldn’t hit it. I couldn’t be more proud of the two of them.

“I’m so proud of some of our freshmen the last two days. Mary Terral, Lindsey Edwards, Megan Robicheaux have all came through for us. They have come up with some big hits in critical moments during these four games.”

Tech will play its final game of the weekend Sunday at 10 a.m. when it face Missouri State.

Game 1: LA Tech 2, South Alabama 0

Preslee Gallaway pitched a complete-game, three-hit shutout and Zoe Hicks and Mary Terral provided RBI hits as the Lady Techsters defeated South Alabama 2-0 in the first game of the day.

Gallaway never allowed more than one base runner in any inning and twice pitched around leadoff doubles by USA hitters. She struck out six and didn’t walk a batter in picking up her second win of the season.

After stranding the bases loaded in the first inning, Tech struck for its first run in the top of the third inning. Morgan Turkoly reached on a fielding error by the USA second baseman, moving to second base on the play. With two outs, Hicks singled to left field, scoring Turkoly and giving LA Tech a 1-0 lead.

Tech had another opportunity to add to its lead in the fifth inning as three straight singles gave the Techsters life, but Hicks was called out at home on Terral’s infield single on a bang-bang play ending the threat. Tech had another opportunity in the sixth inning but Bayli Simon was called out at home plate on a bang bang call to end the frame.

Tech upped its advantage to 2-0 in the seventh inning as a Terral infield single plated scored Jazlyn Crowder, who had singled earlier in the frame.

Gallaway set USA down in order in the seventh to seal the win.

Terral (3-4, RBI), Hicks (2-4, RBI), Crowder (1-4, run, sB), Turkoly (run, SB), Marilyn Rizzato (1-2), and Simon (1-4) led Tech in the game offensively.

Game 2: LA Tech 2, #17 Auburn 1

Krystal De La Cruz matched Auburn ace Makayla Martin pitch for pitch in an epic pitchers’ duel before Kimmie Atienza singled home Lindsay Edwards with the eventual game-winning run in the top of the seventh as Tech defeated Auburn 2-1.

De La Cruz (1-0) and Martin (1-1) pitched five scoreless innings for their respective teams before finally surrendering runs in the sixth.

With two outs in the top of the sixth, Jazlyn Crowder walked and stole second base and Zoe Hicks doubled down the right field line to plate the first run of the game. Tech led 1-0.

The lead was short-lived though. Auburn responded in the bottom of the frame when Casey McCracken hit a solo home run over the left centerfield wall, tying the game at 1-1.

In the top of the seventh, Tech finally got to Martin. The Lady Techsters recorded four straight singles against the Auburn ace as Bayli Simon, Edwards, Meghan Robicheaux and Atienza all came through in the clutch. Atienza’s run-scoring single was down the third base line and gave Tech the lead.

Hicks came on in relief of De La Cruz to start the seventh, allowing a leadoff single. After recording an out on the next batter – the runner moving to second – Gallaway relieved Hicks with the tying run on second. Gallaway induced a pair of fly outs to end the game.

Hicks (2-3, RBI), Atienza (1-3, RBI), Crowder (run, SB), Simon (1-3), Edwards (1-3, run), and Robicheaux (1-2) led Tech offensively.