By Drew Parsley, Louisiana Tech Associate Director Strategic Communications; featured photo by Chase McGough
RUSTON — Louisiana Tech (9-7) dropped the weekend series to South Alabama (9-6) after an 8-2 final on Sunday at the Love Shack. The Bulldogs had been kept off the board for 17 innings before a two-run double struck the scoreboard for Tech in the ninth inning.
The Jaguars put pressure early on the Bulldogs after loading the bases with no outs. A pair of walks followed by a base hit gave South Alabama a chance at an early lead before a line drive was hit back to Brooks Roberson on the mound. Roberson caught the first out then quickly turned to first to get the Jaguars runner out for a double play before he could return to the base.
South Alabama continued to bring the pressure the next inning after a leadoff single, a sacrifice bunt and an RBI knock gave the Jaguars their first run of the contest. South Alabama was retired in order in the third before a five-spot gave them a six-run lead in the fourth.
The bases were loaded once again after a walk, a single and a bunt single that was put in play as a sacrifice, but the runner beat out the throw to first. The next batter was hit by a pitch to put South Alabama up 2-0, which followed with a fielder’s choice to first baseman Colton Coates who fired the ball to Eli Berch at the plate for a force out.
After a bases-loaded walk a pitching change was made before another run came in for the Jaguars via wild pitch. A two-run double off the left field wall two at-bats later gave South Alabama their 6-0 advantage heading to the home half of the fourth. Tech was able to juice the bases during their turn at the plate but were unable to push anything across.
A solo shot on the first pitch of the sixth inning put the Jaguars up seven before an RBI double in the top of the ninth gave them an 8-0 lead with just three outs left for the ‘Dogs. A two-run double by Cade Patterson put Tech on the board, but that was all she wrote in the series finale.
Despite a lackluster offensive showing, freshman Trey Hawsey now has a pair of multi-hit games this season in his previous two games after entering the weekend 2-23 at the plate. Brooks Roberson suffered a loss for his first decision as a collegiate pitcher yet has still held opponents to a combined .083 batting average through 11 2/3 innings.
Nate Crider fanned four batters through 2 1/3 innings of relief while allowing a run. Connor Nation tossed a pair of shutout innings allowing just one hit with four strikeouts as well.
The Bulldogs begin a stretch where seven of their next eight games are played on the road, starting with the No. 13 Oklahoma Sooners on Wednesday, March 12 at L. Dale Mitchell Park in Norman, Oklahoma. First pitch is set for 6:30 p.m. CT.
Head Coach Lane Burroughs after Sunday’s game:
“Two Sundays in a row [we gave up] 10+ freebies for the opponent and we lose both games. Memphis last week had the big inning, a five-run inning—they had one hit in that inning; they hit a grand slam. Today they had the big inning in the fourth, [a] five-run inning … but at the end of the day—you go all the way back to the top of the first we load the bases with nobody out. We get very fortunate we get a liner back to the pitcher and get a double play, or it could’ve been a lot worse. And those are freebies—walking people and not being ready when we take the bump. It’s unfortunate for Brooks because he’s had moments where he’s been really good, and we were behind the eight ball from that big inning on. And the offense is really struggling, you don’t have to be a baseball person to know that. We’re really scuffling right now. I am proud of Trey Hawsey, he seems to be coming out of it. He swung the bat good today [and] took some walks. Cade Patterson—I’m thankful he got a hit and drove in some runs. We have to move forward and put it behind us, and we have to get better. We’re not really good right now. I don’t know—coming off two midweek wins where we were really good and I thought we played really good Friday, except for the one inning, and it just never recovered after that. I’m not sure how that got away from us that quick, but we need to get a handle on it.”