LA Tech wraps up season sweep of Grambling

GRAMBLING, La. – The Louisiana Tech baseball team capitalized on six Grambling errors, while churning out 10 hits en route to a 12-1 triumph over the Tigers on Wednesday evening from R.W.E. Jones Park.

“I thought we came out a little lethargic tonight, but we hung in there and kept getting better as the game went on,” head coach Lane Burroughs said. “We preach that the key ingredients to a big inning are walks, HBPs and errors, and I think you saw that tonight. I thought our pitchers were great tonight – I thought they were all electric, and made the most of their opportunities. We had to get this win. Grambling has a good club, and I fully expect them to make a run in their conference tournament. For us to come over here, and to play as well as we did as the game went on – just couldn’t be more proud of our guys tonight.”

The Bulldogs (33-17) led 5-1 heading into the sixth inning, in which, Tech capitalized on four Grambling (23-24) errors, blowing the game open. Tech notched only two hits in the frame, but batted around, as five runs came in to score.

Tech reliever Ben Stiglets entered in the fifth inning, and pitched four innings, earning his first win of the season. The right-hander was electric out of the pen, striking out a season-best seven batters. The seven punchouts all came consecutively from the fifth through the seventh innings, as Stiglets was virtually unhittable through the stretch. The junior allowed just one baserunner of the 13 batters he faced.

Despite the Tiger miscues, Tech still saw RBI from Hunter Wells, Mason Mallard, Parker Bates Steele Netterville (2), Mason Robinson (2), Chris Clayton, and Shelton Wallace.

Wallace entered the game as a pinch hitter in the seventh inning, and wasted no time in making an impact – driving the very first pitch he saw deep into left centerfield for his first home run of the season, while giving Tech its 12th run of the night.

The Bulldogs reached base at least one in every inning, while eight different players scored at least one run in the triumph.

Southpaw reliever Tanner Propst entered the game in the ninth inning, and struck out a pair of batters, while working a clean final frame.

Tech starter Tyler Follis tossed four innings, allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out four.

As a team, Tech pitchers struck out 13 Tiger hitters on the evening.

With the victory, Tech improved to 2-0 this season against the Tigers, while extending the team’s winning streak to 28 straight over Grambling.

Tech will return to action this weekend at No. 7 Southern Miss in a crucial Conference-USA series. Friday’s game is set for 6 p.m. CT from Hattiesburg, Mississippi.