Louisiana Tech wrecked McNeese State’s Mardi Gras, beating the Cowgirls 6-1 Tuesday afternoon in a nonconference softball game.

Tech pitcher Audrey Pickett (7-2) threw a complete game, allowing six hits and striking out three. It was the third win in four games for Tech.

The loss snapped a two-game McNeese (8-7) winning streak, and continued recent woes at the plate. McNeese has scored three runs or fewer in six of its last seven games. None of the six hits Tuesday were for extra bases.

“We’re not making very good adjustments at the plate,” Cowgirls head coach James Landreneau said. “It’s the same style of out over and over again.”

Tech (10-6), which completed a five-day road trip, scored four runs in the third inning on an RBI single by Tanjala Smith, two-run double by Caroline Easom and RBI double by Brooke Diaz.

Diaz and Lindsay Edwards each hit a solo homer later in the game. It was Diaz’s fourth homer of the season.

McNeese’s lone run came in the sixth inning. Kendall Talley reached on a bunt single and scored on a Jil Poullard single. Alayis Seneca reached on a fielder’s choice and moved to second on an infield single by Josie Willingham.

Chloe Gomez followed with one of the hardest hit balls of the game, but Tech first baseman Bailey Wright snagged it and stepped on the bag for an inning-ending double play.

Whitney Tate (1-4) took the loss for McNeese, allowing four runs in 21/3 innings. Ashley Vallejo allowed two runs in 42/3 innings of relief.

“They just played better than us today,” Landreneau said.

“We made mistakes over the plate and they hit the ball hard. We’re not playing very well right now. We just got beat in every phase of the game — two-out hits, two-strike hitting, offense and defense. They pitched better than we did. It’s just a frustrating day.

“Our team is not playing the level it is capable of. We have to do a better job, I have to find some way to make our team play a little bit better, a little cleaner, a little more aggressive.”

a NOTES: Vallejo was named the Southland Conference Pitcher of the Week.

It was Vallejo’s second weekly honor of the season. The sophomore posted a 1-1 record against Memphis and Sam Houston State. She recorded 14 strikeouts, giving up two runs on six hits in 14 innings and closed out the weekend with a 0.64 ERA.