May 7, 2008

Box Score

NATCHITOCHES, La. - Louisiana Tech managed only four hits and committed three errors in a 7-1 loss at Northwestern State on Wednesday night. It marked the fifth straight loss for the Bulldogs.

Tech (20-29) now drops to 10-3 against in-state competition this year, and has lost seven of its last eight against NSU. The Demons (25-23), one of the nation's best in stealing bases, swiped five on the night.

The game featured possibly one of the shortest rain delays of all-time as the field was cleared, covered, uncovered and play resumed within a span of eight minutes in the top of the eighth inning.

Alan Knotts (3-3) got the start and was charged with the loss after giving up two runs on three hits in 2.2 innings of work, striking out and walking three apiece.. Jamey Bradshaw pitched the middle third of the game, going 3.1 innings and giving three runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out three. Casey Jones would strike out two while giving up just one hit in one inning, and Aaron Lorio would give up two runs in his inning of work.

Johnnie Santangelo (3-0) got the victory for NSU, giving up just one run on four hits in 6.1 innings of work.

Jericho Jones, Chris Kersten, Kevin Winn and Patrick Thomas had the Bulldogs' four hits on the night.

NSU would strike early. A two-out walk to Mike Jaworski, who then stole second, led to Justin O'Neal blooping a single into left center to bring in the Demons' first run and take a 1-0 lead.

Tech had an opportunity in the second when Jericho Jones led off with a double. But an attempt to steal a run by getting Drew Bunting in a rundown between first and second with two out was unsuccessful as Bunting was tagged out before Jones could reach the plate.

The Demons would strike again in the third on a perfectly executed hit-and-run as Jordan Nipp ripped a single to right behind the advancing Denney Choate. Jones would come up throwing, trying to gun down Choate at third, but his throw would get by Bunting, allowing Nipp to score to make it 2-0. Despite a walk and a stolen base later in the inning, the Bulldogs would escape with no further damage.

Tech would finally get some help from the Northwestern defense in the fourth. Kevin Winn led off with a single to left, and advance to second when the second baseman mishandled the return throw to the infield. A wild pitch would send him to third, and a walk to Jones would put runners at the corners with no outs. But Goulder would foul out to the catcher, Winn would make the second out after a chopper in front of the plate bounced straight to the catcher, and a well-hit ball by Bunting was run down by Nipp in right field to retire the side.

Northwestern would then get a pair of unearned runs in the fourth. A base hit from Beau Snodgrass was followed by an error at shortstop, putting runners at first and second with one out. They would both advance on a wild pitch, and then a two-out base hit that hit off Bradshaw's glove would score both runs, giving the Demons a 4-0 lead.

The Demons would keep the bats going in the fifth as O'Neal got his second RBI of the day with a leadoff home run, extending the lead to 5-0.

A sacrifice fly by Bunting to bring in Goulder from third would finally put the Bulldogs in the seventh, but still trailing 5-1. The Demons would then score two more in the eighth to make the final margin 7-1.

Tech has the weekend off from conference play, and will play its next game on Tuesday, May 13, against UL-Monroe. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at J.C. Love Field in Ruston.