No. 16 LA Tech blanks Rice for 7th shutout of 2021

HOUSTON – Another set of nine zeroes flashed on the scoreboard on Friday night as No. 16 Louisiana Tech posted its seventh shutout of 2021 in a 6-0 victory over Rice at Reckling Park. The Diamond Dogs entered this weekend’s series No. 1 in the nation in shutouts, adding to the tally behind left-hander Jonathan Fincher’s second complete-game shutout of the season.

The Bulldogs (21-7, 7-2 C-USA) provided Fincher with six runs of support behind three spots in the sixth and eighth innings, rewarding the Friday night ace after working out of a jam in the bottom of the fifth.

After LA Tech had left the bases loaded in the fourth, Rice (13-15-1, 2-6-1 C-USA) threatened with its best scoring chance in the bottom of the fifth. The Owls opened the frame with Fincher’s sole walk of the evening before a ground ball from Austin Bulman found its way through the left side to put runners at first and third with nobody out.

Fincher erased the Rice scoring threat behind a popout and back-to-back stellar defensive plays from his infield. With one out, first baseman Manny Garcia charged in to thwart a would-be sacrifice bunt, looking the runner back to third base before tossing to second baseman Taylor Young at first to record the second out. Shortstop Alex Ray then ended the frame after gloving a hard-hit ball from Rice’s Justin Long and then firing to Garcia at first for the third out.

“What can you say?” head coach Lane Burroughs said. “That’s Fincher’s third complete game of the year, and he just attacks the zone with multiple pitches.

“Our guys are playing well, and it felt good to get out there and compete.”

LA Tech centerfielder Parker Bates broke the scoreless tie in the top of the sixth with an RBI single on an 0-2 pitch, blasting a ball to right field to bring home Young from third. The Diamond Dogs remained patient in the sixth, scoring runs via a passed ball and a balk to extend a 1-0 lead to 3-0 advantage.

Four Bulldog walks helped Tech double its lead in the eighth inning. Catcher Jorge Corona, pinch hitter Ben Brantley and left fielder Cole McConnell drew three straight walks with one out to load the bases. Young then registered the fourth free pass of the inning for an RBI walk, making it 4-0 Diamond Dogs. Two-hole batter Hunter Wells, who finished the night with a 4-for-5 night at the dish, smacked a two-out, two-RBI single to centerfield to push the game to its final tally. The Katy, Texas native tallied a four-hit, two-RBI performance in front of a hometown crowd.

Houston native Philip Matulia also shined in front of a hometown crowd, going 1-for-3 with two walks and a double off the wall in his first appearance in the LA Tech lineup since March 14 against Arkansas. Matulia returned to the Bulldog lineup after an injury prevented him from stepping into the batter’s box for three weeks.

With the win, LA Tech moves to 7-1 in games Fincher has started this season. The Shreveport native has now tossed 53.1 innings in 2021, allowing just eight earned runs and nine walks while striking out 47 opposing batters.

Usual cleanup batter Steele Netterville missed Friday night’s game and will be out for the weekend due to precautionary reasons related to an injury. The Bulldogs hope to have the right fielder back for next weekend’s series against Southern Miss.

LA Tech will go for the series victory in Saturday’s doubleheader. Right-hander Ryan Jennings and left-hander Cade Gibson will toe the rubber for the ‘Dogs in game one and game two, respectively, at Reckling Park.