LA Tech falls, 4-1, to Middle Tennessee

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Louisiana Tech baseball team was held to just one run on seven hits in a 4-1 defeat to Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon from Reese Smith Jr. Field.

The Bulldogs (13-9, 1-4 C-USA) were unable to get anything going against Middle Tennessee (8-14, 3-2 C-USA) starter Peyton Wigginton (2-1), who threw a complete game. The left-hander scattered seven Bulldogs hits, while allowing just one run. Wigginton struck out nine and walked one in his second nine-inning start of the year.

Tech starter Logan Robbins (2-2) was charged with the loss, but pitched well for the Bulldogs. The left-hander hurled 5.2 innings, while allowing three runs (all earned) on seven hits. Robbins also tied his career high with seven strikeouts, and walked two.

The Blue Raiders plated the first run of the game in the second inning, before Tech got a sac fly from Steele Netterville, scoring Mason Mallard (who led off the fourth with a triple) to even the score at one.

However, Middle Tennessee would take the lead right back in the fourth after a sac fly RBI to center from Darrell Freeman.

Both pitchers made it through the fifth unscathed, before the Blue Raiders built a threat on Robbins in the bottom of the sixth.

Robbins walked the leadoff man, Myles Christian before getting two outs, while Christian advanced to second. Now with two outs, Tech called on right-handed reliever Tyler Follis to retire the nine-hole hitter in Buddy Fultz. However, the designated hitter, making his first appearance of the season, lined an RBI single back up the middle, extending the Blue Raiders lead to 3-1.

Middle Tennessee would tack on its final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh, via a solo home run to right from catcher Aaron Antonini.

Tech shortstop Taylor Young finished the game 2-for-3, while Mason Mallard (2-for-4, 1 R) added a pair of hits.

Follis pitched 2.1 innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits, while striking out four. The right-hander did not walk a batter.

The Bulldogs and Blue Raiders will conclude the weekend set tomorrow with the rubber game set for 1 p.m. from Reese Smith Jr. Field.