Oct. 31, 2010
RUSTON, La. - Clint Ewing was 4-for-6 while Kyle Roliard and Mark Threlkeld drove in two runs apiece as the Louisiana Tech Blue Team exploded for an eight-run offensive outburst in the fifth inning en route to a 11-5 win over the White Team Sunday afternoon at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park. The Blue Team has won two straight games and holds a 2-1 advantage in the 2010 Louisiana Tech Fall World Series.
"As coaches and as a team we were doing everything that we could to get that one run to get our team on top," said senior catcher Clint Ewing. "The fifth inning really started with me not really being a bunt guy moving (Mark Threlkeld) over to second base with a bunt. We benefited from that and the next thing you know, things just started rolling with the eight run inning."
With the score knotted at one apiece, Threlkeld led off the top of the fifth inning drawing a walk while Ewing followed with a bunt single. After a groundout advanced both runners into scoring position, the White Team starter, junior Jamie Gilley was pulled due to pitch count limitations.
With Brent Fletcher getting the nod in relief and plunking Terrasas on his first pitch, the Blue Team broke the tie courtesy of a sacrifice fly from Colby Johnson, scoring Threlkeld. With two outs in the inning, the floodgates opened as the Blue Team pounded out seven more runs highlighted by a two-run singles from Roliard and Threlkeld as the Blue Team batted around plating eight runs on five hits in the inning.
Blue Team starter Josh Barrett (1-0) earned the win, allowing two runs on five hits with five strikeouts in 5.1 innings of work.
"(Barrett) threw very well," said Ewing. "The key is he was just able to locate his fastball in the strike zone with movement and he was able to throw his changeup for strikes. He just kept the White Team off balanced. It didn't require blowing anything by a guy - he just pitched his game and threw strikes."
Chris Sadberry allowed one run on five hits with a strikeout in 2.2 innings of relief work. Caleb Dudley worked the ninth inning allowing three hits and two runs while picking up a strikeout to wrap up the win for the Blue Team.
The White Team grabbed an early lead in the bottom of the first inning as Corey White led off the inning with a double to center and Alex Williams drove him in two batters later with an RBI single through the right side.
However, the Blue team answered in their next at-bat as a sacrifice fly from Cole Gilmore plated Terrasas.
Allowing a string of nine unanswered runs, the White Team responded and added a pair of runs in the sixth and the ninth innings but the deficit accrued in the fifth inning proved to be too much to overcome.
White Team starter Jamie Gilley (0-1) was saddled with the loss, allowing three runs on six hits and two walks in 4.1 innings of work.
"Our starting pitching has really bailed us out this weekend," said Ewing. "If Barrett and LeBreton (Saturday's starter) don't have great outings with the pitch count limits, we're in a bad situation with relief pitching. Those guys stepped it up."
Both teams return to action Tuesday night for game four of the 2010 Louisiana Tech Fall World Series. First pitch is scheduled for 6 p.m. CST at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
For complete coverage of Bulldog Baseball, please visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at LATechSports.com and follow sports information contact, Austin Staton, on twitter for the latest and most current news.
