LA Tech falls in opener to Middle Tennessee, 7-3

RUSTON, La. – Middle Tennessee captured game one over Louisiana Tech 7-3 Friday night at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

Despite hard hit balls and a Philip Matulia solo shot, LA Tech (27-12, 11-5 C-USA) could not rally after Middle Tennessee (20-16, 10-6 C-USA) jumped on the board first. The Blue Raiders plated two runs in the top of the first on a Briggs Rutter RBI single to center and a Mason Speirs RBI single to right.

The Bulldogs were held scoreless through the first two frames until Taylor Young singled, stole second, advanced to third on an error and Logan McLeod drove him in with a RBI groundout. Three batters later Jorge Corona singled to left with two-outs to tie the ball game back up 2-2.

Middle Tennessee took the lead right back in the fifth as they plated three runs all with two-outs. Jackson Galloway, Rutter and Speirs all recorded RBI knocks consecutively to regain a lead.

In the sixth, Philip Matulia blasted his sixth home run of the year trimming the deficit to 5-3. It was Matulia’s first home run since the go-ahead homer at UTSA back on March 19.

The Blue Raiders loaded the bases in the eighth with two-outs. Two more runs scored on a throwing error to make the lead 7-3.

Cade Gibson suffered his first loss of the season going 4.2 innings allowing 11 hits, five earned runs and punching out two.

Middle Tennessee right-hander Zach Keenan tossed a complete game earning his fourth victory of the year improving to 4-3.

Tanner Knight hurled the final 1.1 innings for the Bulldogs, setting down all four batters he faced.

NOTABLES
• Bulldogs four-game winning streak snapped
• Young 2-for-4; 18th multi-hit game
• Corona 2-for-4; 13th multi-hit game
• Matulia sixth home run of the season

QUOTABLES
Head Coach Lane Burroughs

“It was one of those nights. Sometimes the baseball gods smile on you and sometimes they don’t. we crushed some balls tonight with the wind blowing in and nothing to show for it. Gibson manipulated some soft contact. A lot of balls bouncing in front of home plate, they found holes and that’s baseball. There is nothing you can do about it, but you have to overcome it. We have kind of lived and died by the home run. Matulia was able to get on one as the wind died down late.”

“I had no problem with our offensive approach. Only three strikeouts. Their guy threw really well obviously with a complete game. At the end of the day it is just one loss. We have a chance tomorrow to come back out and even it up.”

UP NEXT
LA Tech and Middle Tennessee are back in action tomorrow at 2 p.m. for game two of the series.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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