RUSTON, La. – The Lamar University softball team suffered its second straight walk-off loss, as host Louisiana Tech rallied for a 5-4 win over the Cardinals at the Louisiana Tech Classic on Sunday.
 
"It hurts to lose two games like this," LU coach Holly Bruder said. "We have to do a better job of closing things out when we have a lead in the seventh inning."
 
The Cardinals (10-4), who squandered a 4-1 lead in the seventh inning in a 6-5 loss to Liberty in 10 innings on Saturday, carried a 4-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh against Louisiana Tech, only to see the Lady Techsters (11-3) score twice in the bottom of the frame for the win.
 
"They got a bloop hit to lead off the inning and then they get another bloop hit to win it," Bruder said. "That's a tough way to lose, but we had our chances to increase our lead and couldn't come through."
 
LU left eight runners on base in the game, four of those in scoring position. LU led 4-3 after three innings, but went scoreless over the final four frames.
 
"We have to learn to really put a team away when we have the chance," Bruder said. "We got eight hits today, but didn't get any timely ones late in the game."
 
Brittany Rodriguez had two hits for LU, including an RBI single in the third that gave the Cardinals their 4-3 lead. Sable Hankins scored twice for LU.
 
LU starter Ciara Luna (5-1) suffered her first career loss. Luna allowed six hits and five runs, two earned over six innings. Luna was lifted after allowing a single and a double to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Laura Napoli came on in relief and retired the first two batters she faced before Morgan Turkoly singled home Anna Cross with the winning run.
 
"Laura came on and almost got out of the jam," Bruder said. "She made a good pitch, but they managed to get a hit off of it."
 
Bailey Allen (5-3) picked up the win over Louisiana Tech with four innings of scoreless relief.

Rodriguez and Ashley McDowell represented Lamar University on the all-tournament team.
 
The Cardinals return to action with two games against Iowa and two against Tulsa at the Tulsa Tournament.
 
"Those will be four hard games next weekend," Bruder said. "We have to learn from this and get better."