Feb. 21, 2011
Game Notes
Ruston, La. - After an impressive performance in the Louisiana Tech Classic this past weekend, the Bulldogs look to extend their home winning streak to 10 games as they play host to UALR Tuesday night at J.C. Love Field.
Tuesday's meeting will mark the 67th meeting between the two programs and the first since Tech knocked off the Trojans in Ruston on March 17, 2009. Overall, the Bulldogs boast a 47-19 record against UALR and a 1-0 mark during the Simoneaux era.
The Bulldogs swept past the field this weekend en route to posting a microscopic 0.33 staff ERA while allowing just one earned run and five walks. The offense combined to hit .320 on the weekend with senior Joey Ford leading the way with six hits, three of which were doubles, five RBI, 12 total bases and a .545 batting average. Mark Threlkeld added two home runs.
Louisiana Tech (3-0) saw a total of six freshmen make their collegiate debuts this past weekend with Tyler Qualls and Ryan Gebhardt earning starts in Sunday's bout with Grambling State.
UALR (2-2) split a four game series this past weekend at Stephen F. Austin. The Trojans return 16 letterwinners from a 2010 squad that finished the season with a 29-25 record and a ninth-place finish in the Sun Belt conference.
Freshman Marc Picciola or junior college transfer, Jamie Gilley will get their first career start for the Bulldogs on Tuesday. The Trojans will counter with lefty Ryan Juris. The senior faced two batters and walked both during a relief appearance last weekend against SFA.
Tuesday night's game will mark "Helmet Night" as the first 25 Louisiana Tech students with a valid Tech ID and the first 25 kids 14 and younger will receive a free LA Tech mini batting helmet. First pitch is slated for 6 p.m. CST.
All home games this season will be streamed live courtesy of LA Tech All-Access while live stats will be provided via Game Tracker on www.LATechSports.com, the official home page for Louisiana Tech Athletics.
THE RUNDOWN
• The Bulldogs 3-0 start to the 2011 season marks the third time in the past four years and fifth time in the Simoneaux era that Tech has won at least three games to start a season.
• A win against UALR would mark the best start at home since 2009 when the Bulldogs won eight-straight home games to start the season.
• Tech's 13-0 shutout over Grambling State on Sunday night was the first time that the Bulldogs had shut out an opponent in a nine-inning game since March 8, 2009 against Eastern Michigan. The Bulldogs won that game by a final score of 10-0.
SCOUTING UALR
Tuesday's meeting against UALR will mark the first of two games this season between the two programs. The Bulldogs will return the trip to Little Rock, Ark., next Tuesday in an afternoon showdown at Gary Hogan Field. In the nine years of the Simoneaux era, the two squads have only met on one occasion. However, Tech owns a 47-19 all-time record against the Trojans with most of the wins coming when Louisiana Tech was a member of the Sun Belt Conference.
The Trojans return 16 letterwinners from a 2010 squad that finished the season with a 29-25 record and a ninth-place finish in the Sun Belt. The Trojans feature 23 upperclassmen, all of which spent time within the junior college ranks.
UALR (2-2) split a four game series this past weekend against Stephen F. Austin. The Trojans picked up a pair of wins sandwiched between two losses in a doubleheader on Saturday. In the series, the Trojans his .220 as a team and managed five extra-base hits, none of which were home runs. Senior Jake Rowell had a team-high five hits in the series and hit at a .333 clip. Junior college transfers Sean Bignall and Justin Barnes combined to hit .333 while totaling one RBI on six hits.
Defensively, the Trojans turned nine double plays and committed four errors in the series. SFA was able to run on the Trojan pitching staff as the totaled six stolen bases on six attempts.
The Trojans are expected to start lefty Ryan Juris. The senior faced two batters and walked both during a relief appearance on opening day against SFA. Last season, Juris posted a 3-3 record in 17 appearances. Tuesday will mark only the fourth start of his Trojan career. In 37.1 innings pitches last season, the senior allowed 59 hits, 31 earned runs, 14 walks while striking out 24 batters to tally a 7.47 earned run average.
As a staff this season, the Trojans have a team ERA of 3.72 and have surrendered 14 walks 15 earned runs while allowing just six extra-base hits.
LAST TIME AGAINST UALR
Patrick Thomas' sacrifice fly in the 11th inning sealed a 10-9 victory for Louisiana Tech.
After a scoreless 10th inning, UALR DH Tim Emmons started the 11th frame with a single. After a sacrifice bunt and a ground out, Emmons stood at third base with third baseman Anthony Gower at the plate. Gower put the ball in play and reached base on an error, however the mistake was costly for the Bulldogs as Emmons crossed the plate on the play to give UALR a one-run lead.
Jonathan Mire started the 11th inning for Tech by sacrificing his body as a result of a hit by pitch. Pinch hitter Ashton Hughes moved Mire over to third on a single to right field. Matt Combs, Tech's second pinch hitter of the inning, was hit by another Trojan pitch. With the bases loaded and only one out, the Bulldogs had Clint Stubbs and then the top of their batting order coming up.
Stubbs tied the game for Tech on an RBI walk to bring in Mire. Thomas put a stamp on the game and a Bulldog win by hitting a fly ball to center field to score Hughes.
Kyle Roliard picked up the victory to move to 2-0 on the season. He pitched the final two innings, allowed two hits and one run (it was unearned), while striking out one batter.
ON DECK
Following a midweek showdown with UALR, the Bulldogs will hit the road for their first away series of the season as Tech will take on McNeese State in a three-game set. First pitch on Friday and Saturday is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. while Sunday's finale has a 1 p.m. start.
