Boxscore I Boxscore II

Louisiana Tech (3-6) nearly handed the No. 17 nationally-ranked Arkansas Razorbacks (8-0) their first loss of the season in the first game of a double header in Baum Stadium at George Cole Field on Friday.

The Bulldogs were down 10-8 heading into the top of the eighth inning but had a chance to at least tie the score. Freshman Jericho Jones led off the inning reaching second base on a passed ball and error by the catcher after he struck out swinging.

Senior catcher Mims Boyce popped out to the catcher, and then senior Joey McCarthy grounded out to shortstop, advancing Jones to third base. Then, it was sophomore center fielder Adam Cobb who delivered the RBI double to left centerfield and pull the Bulldogs within on run.

Cobb led Tech with four hits and two runs scored in five at bats during the game, but sophomore outfielder Brian Rike struck out swinging, as Tech fell by one run to the Razorbacks.

The Bulldogs jumped on top of Arkansas 5-2 heading into the bottom of th fourth inning, but the Razorbacks scored three runs in both the fourth and fifth innings to take an 8-5 lead.

However, Tech showed its grit by responding with three runs in the sixth inning, beginning with back-to-back doubles from Boyce and McCarthy, before Arkansas retalliated with their final two runs in the bottom of the sixth.

Jones started the game on the mound for the Bulldogs, allowing six hits and four earned runs with two strikeouts in three and 1/3 innings pitched. Senior Steve Alverson and sophomores Alan Knotts and Aaron Lorio finished the game.

Alverson gave up one earned run in one and 1/3 innings, and Knotts (1-2) was tagged with the loss after recording four hits and two earned runs in two and 2/3 innings.

Behind Cobb's four hits, junior Brandon Hudson had two hits, and Boyce, McCarthy, Rike, Ben Tabor and Amos Ramon each had one hit.

Ramon extended his hitting streak to eight games, which was the longest for any Bulldog. But the streak ended in the second game of the double header, as Tech mustered only three hits total.

Junior Brady Bascle had two hits, and freshman Drew Thomas registered the only other hit. However, it was a timely hit, as Bascle and Jones were standing on second and third base, respectively. Thomas stepped to the plate and delivered a two RBI single to right field, pulling Tech within 4-2 of the Razorbacks.

Arkansas did not waste anytime responding on the scoreboard, however, and the Razorbacks scored the final nine runs of the game. Freshman Luke Burnett (0-2) suffered the loss after allowing two earned runs in the first three innings.

Sophomore Andrew Lassere, senior Jeffery DeAlejandro, sophomore Andrew Alsup and freshman Dylan Moseley all pitched in relief.

The Bulldogs will wrap up the three-game series at Arkansas with a televised game tomorrow at 1 p.m. The game will air live on Cox Sports Television, and it can also be heard on the radio on KXKZ, 107.5, as Dave Nitz will voice all the action.