RUSTON, La. -- The Louisiana Tech baseball team continued its fast start with a 15-1 victory over Mississippi Valley State in action at the Bone and Joint Classic.
After a 45-minute rain delay after two innings of play, the Bulldogs broke the game open with a 10 run third inning and coasted to the five-inning victory.
Bulldogs starting pitcher Nick Green (1-0) earned the victory by allowing only one hit and striking out six in four innings of work. "He did not look real sharp early and I think he may have had the jitters a little bit but he settled down and made some adjustments and threw well," Bulldog head coach Jeff Richardson said. "It was not his best but good enough to win."
Green was making his first appearance as a Bulldog after transferring for Cowley County (Mo.) Community College.
Louisiana Tech moves to 5-0 with the victory. This is the first time since 1996 that the Bulldogs have opened the season winning their first five games.
Tech capitalized on five walks and three hit batsmen in the third inning to erupt for 10 runs, which broke open a 1-1 ballgame.
"I am happy with the energy level and the intensity we are playing with," Richardson added. "We are playing hard and the attitude is much better than it has been in the past."
Tech took the lead for good when Craig Montgomery scored on a wild pitch by Delta Devil starter Torrione Carter. Montgomery had reached on a walk and advanced on a passed ball.
A throwing error by the catcher allowed John Brandon to score from third on a stolen base by Cullen Simmons which made the score 3-1. After Jake Adams was hit by a pitch and Tim Meadows walked, Nick Cauley drew a bases loaded walk which scored Simmons and made the score 4-1.
A ground out by Bo Grimes and an infield single by Bryan Beck gave the Bulldogs a 6-1 advantage before Montgomery singled to right field breaking the game open with a 8-1 Tech lead.
A two run double by Brandon off the centerfield wall gave the Bulldogs two more runs and before the inning ended 10 runs crossed the plate and Tech led 11-1 after three innings of action.
Tech picked up four more in the fourth with Eric Gashel delivering the big blow, a 2 RBI double to centerfield.
Montgomery, Brandon, Gashel and Meadows all had 2 RBIs each in the big win for Tech.
The only run Mississippi Valley scored was an unearned run in the first inning.
Louisiana Tech will put its perfect record on the line Tuesday afternoon when the Bulldogs travel to take on Texas-Arlington at 2 p.m. The Bulldogs will return to J.C. Love Field on Wednesday when Centenary comes to Ruston for the first of four meetings with the Gents on the 2001 season.
