Hot hitting Bulldogs take game one of weekend series with Kent State

RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech closed out game one with a 8-5 against Kent State. Louisiana Tech (5-0) scored eight runs and nine hits with one error, while Kent State (1-3) put up five runs and five hits with two errors.

Tech was down 1-0 in the top of the second after Kent State Dom Kibbler hit an RBI double to center field, which scored Ripken Reese. Right fielder Brody Drost (2-for-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI) lifted the Bulldogs to a 3-1 lead after a three-run home run to right field, scoring Michael Ballard and Jorge Corona.

Kent State fought back to tie up the contest in the top of the third following a two-run home run from Tim Orr, scoring Michael McNamara. Redshirt Junior Brody Drost continued his stellar night with a perfectly placed bunt in the bottom of the fourth inning, which scored Adarius Myers due to a throwing error from Kent State Jack Kartsonas. The Bulldogs stayed hot in the inning thanks to a Kasten Furr RBI single scoring Brody Drost. Cole McConnell (1-for-3, 1 HR, 3 RBI) three-run homer to center field pushed Tech to a five-run lead in the bottom of the fifth inning.

The Golden Flashes would cut Louisiana Tech’s lead to three after a Michael McNamara home run to left field, making the score 8-5. Tech’s pitchers tossed ten strikeouts, five hits, and three walks on Friday night. Grant Hubka (2-0) picked up a win in relief while striking out three batters and just one hit in three innings. Sam Brodersen collected his first save on the year when he went two innings and sat down five batters with two walks. Broderesen has eleven strikeouts and three walks in his two appearances on the mound.

QUOTABLES

Head coach Lane Burroughs quotes:
“I thought we got a lot better from last weekend to tonight. We challenged our guys this week to play with an edge and a chip on their shoulders. Kent State came in with a lot of good, mature hitters. They got two homers, and their guy got a two-out double to get them on the board. I thought Sam Brodersen was electric towards the end of the ball game. I appreciate our fans giving Cole McConnell a standing ovation and recognizing that the young man has paid his dues and sat out a year. McConnell’s at-bat before the homer was unbelievable, was an eight or nine-pitch at-bat, and he kept fouling pitches off and taking good pitches to end walking, leading to his homer.”

UP NEXT
Tech will look to continue success on Saturday against Kent State with first pitch at 2 p.m. Pitcher Luke Nichols will start on the mound, making his second appearance on the season.

TICKET INFO.
During the 2024 season, a limited number of single-game reserved chairback tickets may be available on a game-by-game basis. Any opportunities for unclaimed single-game tickets will go on sale, if available, no earlier than 24 hours before the scheduled first pitch.

Single-game standing-room only and right-field berm tickets are also available on a game-by-game basis for $15.

To purchase, fans can stop by the LA Tech Baseball Box Office at J.C. Love Field, open two hours prior to the first pitch, or visit LATechSports.com/Tickets.

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