LA Tech falls to No. 9 Southern Miss, 16-1

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The Louisiana Tech baseball team allowed a season high five home runs, as No. 9 Southern Miss took a 16-1 run-rule victory in eight innings on Saturday afternoon from Pete Taylor Park.

LA Tech (34-18, 17-9 Conference USA) and Southern Miss (36-13, 20-5 C-USA) have now split the first two games of the weekend set, setting up a crucial rubber match on Sunday afternoon.

Offensively, Tech saw a solo home run from Tanner Huddleston in the top of the second for the Bulldogs’ only run of the afternoon. The bomb was Huddleston’s seventh of the season and helped increase his team leading RBI total to 40.

However, the Golden Eagles struck for five long balls on the day, including two from centerfielder Matt Wallner. Wallner finished the afternoon with a game-high five RBI, while first baseman Hunter Slater (four RBI) and shortstop LeeMarcus Boyd (three RBI) combined for most of the offensive fireworks for Southern Miss.

Tech starter Logan Robbins (7-1) dropped a decision for the first time in his collegiate career, making it through just 3.0 innings, while allowing seven runs (all earned) on five hits.

Walker Powell (6-2) picked up the win for Southern Miss, tossing 7.0 innings, allowing one run on six hits. Powell struck out six and did not walk a batter.

Tech had a couple of opportunities to close the gap, but bounced into a bases-loaded double play in the fourth, and then grounded into another the ensuing inning, with runners at the corners and one out.

Hunter Wells was the only Bulldog with multiple hits, going three-for four with a double and a pair of singles from the top of the lineup.

The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles will play the rubber match of this three-game series tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. CT. Tech is slated to throw left-hander Logan Bailey, while Southern Miss will counter with right-hander Cody Carroll.