LA tech’s 3-1 victory over Rice completes weekend sweep

RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech defeated Rice 3-1 on Sunday afternoon at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

The Bulldogs swept the Owls, capped a third straight dominant start from Jonathan Fincher and big days at the plate for Cole McConnell and Steele Netterville.

LA Tech (23-10, 9-3 C-USA) jumped out quickly on Rice (9-24, 3-9 C-USA) as they scored the first two runs of the game with two outs in the first. Cole McConnell delivered an RBI double and Walker Burchfield followed up with a single to bring the second run home.

The Bulldogs plated one more in the third inning coming from Netterville’s eighth long ball as he has homered in back-to-back games.

Fincher (6-1) made the start for LA Tech tossing six scoreless innings, allowing seven hits, one walk and striking out four.

Right-hander Jarret Whorff came out of the bullpen in the seventh throwing two perfect innings in relief of Fincher. Whorff struck out thre of the six batters he faced. Kyle Crigger came on to pitch the ninth inning and allowed the first two men to reach base, giving up one earned run. The Bulldog closer earned his sixth save as he struck out two after the run came across.

NOTABLES
• Fincher earns sixth win
• Crigger earns sixth save
• 41 total strikeouts for LA Tech pitching on the weekend
• McConnell with back-to-back three hit games
• Netterville back-to-back days with homer (8)
• Myers 2-for-3 with solo home run (3)
• Ninth straight C-USA win at home

QUOTABLES
Head Coach Lane Burroughs

“It’s a sweep, but we left way too many runners out there. Three great starts this weekend. Fincher was really good. We needed a great start out of him and he gave it to us. I thought Whorff was outstanding. He gave us six outs and was really strong. Crigger had a little trouble there at the end, but was able to slam the door. Steele was able to get on one and hit a home run. Adarius Myers did a great job today with the wind out in left field. Proud of our defense we didn’t make any errors and we didn’t all weekend.”

UP NEXT
The Bulldogs will host Northwestern State Tuesday at 6 p.m. to finish off the homestand.

SOCIAL MEDIA
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