Boxscore

RUSTON ? Louisiana Tech used three home runs to down Louisiana-Monroe 12-3 Tuesday night at J.C. Love Field to sweep the I-20 series from the Indians.

With the victory, Tech ended its regular season 32-23 as it prepares to compete in the 2006 Western Athletic Conference Tournament May 25-28 in Fresno, Calif.

UL-Monroe fell to 17-35 and prepares to play at Northwestern State in the final Southland Conference series of the year as the Indians must sweep the series in order to earn a spot in the conference tournament.

After a scoreless first four innings, the two teams offenses began to come to life in the fifth inning as UL-Monroe designated hitter James Bennett started the scoring off with a solo home run over the centerfield wall off Tech reliever Andrew Alsup.

Tech answered in the bottom of the fifth with a two-out, three-run home run by shortstop Joey McCarthy to left field off Indian starter Steve Lawler. All three of the Tech runs in the frame were unearned due to an error by Indian second baseman Travis Drader.

The Bulldogs increased their lead to 6-1 in the bottom of the sixth inning on a three-run home run by second baseman Amos Ramon over the left field wall, chasing Lawler from the game.

?That was huge, especially in that situation? Ramon said. ?We got some runs and gave our pitcher some run support.?

UL-Monroe cut the Tech lead to 6-3 in the top of the eighth inning when Drader smashed a two-run blast over the right centerfield fence.

However, any chance of an Indian comeback was doused as Tech scored six runs on five hits and one error in its half of the eighth inning. The first two runs of the inning came on Jericho Jones 16th home run of the season, a towering shot over the left centerfield wall to make the score 8-3.

Brady Bascle added a pinch hit run scoring double while Mims Boyce added an RBI on a fielder?s choice groundout, making the score 11-3. Patrick Thomas added an RBI walk.

Jones, who pitched four scoreless innings for Tech, led the Bulldogs with two hits, while Ryan Hamilton, Ramon and Brian Rike each added two hits. McCarthy and Ramon each had three RBI.

Alsup (4-1) picked up the win, pitching 4.0 innings while allowing seven hits and three earned runs.

Tech will return to action May 25 in the first round of the Western Athletic Conference Tournament in Fresno.