The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs’ stay in the NCAA Tournament was short-lived.
Tech fell to Southeast Missouri State 9-3 in an elimination game in the Fayetteville Regional Saturday afternoon in Fayetteville, Ark.
That came after the Bulldogs lost to Kansas State 19-4 in the completion of a game suspended Friday night because of inclement weather.
Tech, Conference USA’s regular-season champion, finished the season 45-19.
After cutting a 2-0 SEMO lead to 2-1 on Karson Evans’ home run in the top of the third, the Bulldogs gave up seven runs in the bottom of the fourth.
Tech added two in the top of the fifth. The Bulldogs loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth but came away empty.
Tech started the decisive fourth inning with a throwing error and a walk.
SEMO’s Ian Riley had a two-RBI single. Brooks Kettering had an RBI-triple. Josh Cameron capped the inning with a grand slam home run to center.
Reed Smith, who allowed six hits and three earned runs in 3 2/3 innings, took the loss.
SEMO starter Brian Strange, who allowed seven hits in 6 2/3 innings, got the win.
Tech’s Dalton Davis went 2-for-5. Adarius Myers had two RBI.
Tech trailed Kansas State 9-4 in the top of the sixth when their game resumed Saturday morning. The Wildcats proceeded to add 10 more runs to their total the next three innings.
Kansas State had 18 hits to Tech’s six. Jaden Parsons and Kaelen Culpepper both went 4-for-5 with four RBI. Chuck Ingram hit two home runs and had five RBI.
Michael Ballard led Tech with two hits. The Bulldogs used six pitchers with starter Luke Nichols taking the loss.