LA Tech sweeps season series with ULM

RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech (31-15, 14-7 C-USA) took their final midweek home game over ULM (15-27-1, 6-14-1 Sun Belt) 11-5 Tuesday night at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

The Bulldogs used a big five-run eighth on their way to sweeping the season series.

The Warhawks struck first plating three runs on four hits in the first frame. Ryan Cupit drove in the first run on a RBI double to right center. Mason Holt then brought Cupit home on a single to center. Two batters later, Colby Deaville drove in the third run singling through the left side of the infield.

Tech answered back with a two-run bottom half from a Steele Netterville sacrifice fly and a bases loaded walk to Logan McLeod.

In the top of the second, ULM plated one more on a sacrifice fly as Cupit hustled home beating the throw.

LA Tech responded back once again in the second as Netterville added two more RBI on a one-out rope over the second baseman’s head tying the game 4-4 early.

Bulldogs left-hander Ryan Harland entered the game in the second inning logging 4.2 crucial innings to hold the hot Warhawk bats silent. Harland allowed one run on four hits and struck out six in his 13th outing of the season.

The Warhawks plated another run in the fourth taking the lead right back. Trace Henry sent a blast off the left field wall with one-out turning into a triple. He later came around to score on a groundout to shortstop, taking a 5-4 lead.

The Bulldogs were held scoreless until Cole McConnell came up clutch in the bottom of the sixth driving in two runs on a two-out base hit with the bases loaded. LA Tech took their first lead of the night on the single.

In the bottom of the eighth, LA Tech blew it open scoring five runs. Jorge Corona came to the plate with the bases loaded and sent his second grand slam over the left center field wall to take a six-run lead into the ninth.

Landon Tomkins and Kyle Crigger combined for the final three innings out of the pen holding the Warhawks scoreless. Tomkins was able to work out of a second and third jam in the eighth.

NOTABLES
• Harland earns the win improving to 3-0 on the season
• Netterville extends on-base streak to 18
• McLeod extends hitting streak to six
• McConnell records 57th and 58th RBI on the year
• Corona blasts his 10th homer; second grand slam of the season
• The Bulldog offense was walked or hit-by-pitch 12 times
• Taylor Young goes 0-for-0 with three walks, two hit-by-pitch and four runs scored

QUOTABLES
Head Coach Lane Burroughs

“The final score turned out 11-5 but it was a lot closer than that. It was an interesting game where both starters didn’t make it out of the first inning, I don’t remember the last time I saw that. I thought Ryan Harland came out and put a stop to the storm. He is the player of the game because he calmed it down and allowed us to stay in the ball game.”

“We had some guys step up at the plate. Cole McConnell stepped up with a left on left two-out single when we are behind by one. Jorge had the big grand slam and Landon Tomkins was huge as well. Tomkins had a big strikeout against Trace Henry, one of their best hitters who seems to always kill us.”

UP NEXT
LA Tech heads to Natchitoches for a quick road trip to take on Northwestern State Wednesday at 6 p.m.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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