LA Tech wins over Middle Tennessee in 15-12 shootout

RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech baseball team claimed a 15-12 Saturday afternoon triumph over Middle Tennessee, evening the weekend Conference-USA series at one, and setting up a crucial Sunday rubber match between the two squads.

“It was a hitter’s day all around,” head coach Lane Burroughs said. “It just felt like the team with the last at-bat was going to win the game. It was a grind for sure. I’m proud of our team for fighting and clawing – grinding through it. Balls were flying out of the park left and right, but I’m proud of our guys for hanging in there and getting it done today. Both teams left it all out there, and I’m sure everybody is exhausted. The main thing we have to focus on is getting some rest and coming out strong tomorrow, because this is a very important series for us.”

LA Tech (32-16, 16-7 C-USA) tied its season high in runs scored, notching 15 for the third time this season in the back-and-forth Saturday affair. The Bulldogs rattled 16 hits off Middle Tennessee (23-23-1, 8-14-1 C-USA) pitching, as every starter registered a base knock.

Parker Bates (1-for-4) and Tanner Huddleston (2-for-4) combined for eight RBI (four apiece), while Hunter Wells (3-for-6, 2 runs), Dalton Skelton (2-for-5, 2 runs), Mason Mallard (2-for-3, 5 runs, 3 walks, 3 stolen bases), Mason Robinson (2-for-6, 2 runs) and Taylor Young (2-for-4, 1 RBI) all added multiple-hit efforts in the offensive showcase.

Mallard continued his torrid pace on the basepaths, swiping three more bases (tying Tech’s season high) and continued his perfect season (25-for-25). The junior leftfielder also scored a season-best five runs, and walked a season-best three times.

As a team, the Bulldogs swiped six bases, also a season best – and cranked out a season-high six doubles. Tech scored in every inning but one, and placed at least one baserunner in every frame.

Tyler Follis (5-2) finished as the pitcher of record for the Bulldogs, tossing 1.1 innings while allowing a three-run homer and striking out one. Kyle Griffen worked 2.2 solid innings, scattering just two hits, and allowing one run.

Senior Kent Hasler entered with a three-run lead in the ninth, and kept the potential tying run from reaching the plate, striking out Aucker for the game’s final out. Hasler picked up his seventh save of the season in the process.

Tech starter Logan Robbins was uncharacteristically hit hard, as the junior allowed a season-high seven earned runs, only making it through three complete innings. Reliever Ben Stiglets worked an inning of relief in the fourth, allowing a run on a pair of hits, while also striking out a batter.

The Blue Raiders were led offensively by the heart of the lineup in Aaron Aucker (3-for-5, 3 RBI) and Blake Benefield (2-for-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI).

AJ Spencer was the losing pitcher, entering to pitch 1.1 innings of relief and allowing four runs (all earned) on four hits. Middle Tennessee starter Grant Williams did not make it out of the second inning, and allowed four runs on five hits.

After both teams scored in each of the first three innings, Tech held a 7-5 lead. However, the Blue Raiders struck for three in the top of the fourth courtesy of a two-RBI double from Ryan Kemp and an RBI single from Aucker, to surge back in front 8-7.

The Bulldogs would get back to even in the bottom of the frame after an RBI single from Taylor Young brought home Mason Robinson, and tying the game at eight.

Then in the top of the fifth, Middle Tennessee failed to score a run, for the game’s first zero on the scoreboard. Tech pounced on the opportunity to take a stranglehold on the game, and scored three in the bottom of the inning – capitalizing on an error that scored two runs, before back-to-back-to-back RBI base hits for Huddleston, Robinson and Jonathan Parker.

The 27 combined runs were the most scored in a Tech game this season, and the most in any Bulldog baseball contest since Tech and Grambling put up 29 combined runs in 2015.

Tech and Middle Tennessee will return for the series finale rubber match tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. from J.C. Love Field.