Southern Miss downs LA Tech, 5-1

RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech baseball team fell behind, 4-0, through the first three innings and was unable to claw back, falling by a final score of 5-1 to the visiting Southern Miss Golden Eagles in the opening Conference USA series of 2019 from J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

LA Tech (11-7, 0-2 C-USA) saw some solid relief from pitchers Quinton Logan (4.0 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 1 K), Tanner Propst (0.1 IP, 1 K, 1 BB) and Bryce Fagan (2.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 1 K), but was unable to receive a quality start, as left-hander Logan Robbins (1-1) made it through just two innings, allowing four runs (all earned) on seven hits.

The Golden Eagles (10-6, 2-0 C-USA) did their damage early, plating the first run of the game in the top of the second on an RBI single to center from third baseman Danny Lynch. Then, Southern Miss tacked on three more in the top of the third, after the first six batters of the inning reached base (single, walk, RBI single, 2 RBI single, single, single) without the benefit of an extra-base hit. Quinton Logan entered the game with the bases loaded and nobody out, and got a pop out, fielder’s choice and a fly out to retire the side with no further damage.

Tech had a couple of chances early, as a Steele Netterville single and a Parker Bates double put two in scoring position in the bottom of the second. However, Southern Miss starter, Stevie Powers, got a strikeout, fly out and lineout to retire the side, stranding the pair.

Tech got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fifth inning, courtesy of a bases loaded walk from Mason Mallard. However, the Golden Eagles came right back in the top of the sixth and countered with a two-out RBI double from Hunter Slater, pushing the lead back out to four at 5-1.

Southern Miss reliever Sean Tweedy (1-0) picked up the win in relief, as the junior left-hander tossed 2.0 innings of scoreless relief, scattering three hits and striking out two.

The Bulldogs saw multi-hit efforts from shortstop Taylor Young (2-for-3) and Parker Bates (2-for-4), but saw just three base hits from the rest of the lineup. In his return to action, Hunter Wells did not record a hit, but drew a walk, extending his reached-base-safely streak to 40 consecutive games. With his two-hit effort, Bates extended his team-best hitting streak to 14 consecutive contests.

The Bulldogs and Golden Eagles will wrap up the weekend set, with the finale scheduled for Sunday at 1 p.m. from J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.