Feb. 27, 2011

Box Score

LAKE CHARLES, La. - Kyle Roliard tied his career-high with four hits and Justin Gordey had a career-high three RBI as Louisiana Tech took the season series against McNeese State with an 11-10 win against the Cowboys Sunday afternoon at Cowboy Diamond. With the win, Tech is off to the best start since the Bulldogs began the 2008 season with a 6-1 record.

Roliard led off the game with a double to deep center field and moved over to third on a wild pitch from McNeese starter, Jaden Dillon. Taylor Terrasas put the Bulldogs on the board with an RBI groundout to short. Tech added a run in the third inning off of a Mark Threlkeld sacrifice fly, scoring Ashton Hughes.

Jeb Stefan (2-0) got the nod on the mound for the Bulldogs in his second predetermined start of the season. After allowing a two-out single through the right side in the bottom of the first, Stefan retired the next seven batters in order, striking out two, and left as the pitcher of record, ultimately picking up his second win of the season.

Joey Ford and Clint Ewing led off the top of the fourth inning with a pair of singles and Will Alvis pushed the Tech lead to three runs with an RBI double down the left field line. With two runners in scoring position, Gordey drove in two runs with a single up the middle.

Dillon took the loss for McNeese after allowing five runs on six hits while walking two and striking out four batters in 4.0 innings of work.

In relief of Stefan, Roliard entered the game to start the bottom of the fourth inning and allowed two runs on two hits to cut the McNeese deficit to just three runs. Tech would get one run back in the sixth inning as Terrasas drove in Roliard with a two-out single up the middle.

Alex Williams led off the seventh with a single through the left side and then established a new career-high when he recorded his second stolen base of the afternoon. Dustin Lloyd then loaded the bases after hitting Ford and Ewing on consecutive at-bats. Alvis drove in Williams with a single up the middle and Ford scored on a fielder's choice from Gordey to push the Bulldog lead to six runs.

McNeese charged Mike LeBreton with two runs on three hits to start the seventh inning before Caleb Dudley retired the side with two fly outs and a groundout. Both teams traded two runs in the eighth inning and Tech took a five-run lead into the bottom of the ninth inning after Gordey picked up his third RBI of the day with a single up the middle.

Out on the mound to start his third inning of work, Dudley struck out Taylor Drake and induced a groundball out to start off the ninth inning before allowing a pinch-hit single from Matt Williams.

On what appeared to be a routine fly ball to right field from Andrew Lalumandier, Alvis dropped what would have been the last out of the game. On the ensuing at-bat, Threlkeld couldn't handle a sharply hit ground ball to third, allowing Trey Rickrode to reach base.

With two on and two outs, two hits allowed the potential tying run to reach second base. However, Dudley put out the fire by sitting down Seth Granger on a called third strike that clinched the series for the Bulldogs.

Dudley picked up his second save of the season after throwing 3.0 innings allowing six runs, two of which were earned, on six hits.

Louisiana Tech (6-1) continues their four-game road swing as the Bulldogs head north to Little Rock, Arkansas, for a midweek game against UALR. First pitch is set for Tuesday at 3 p.m. CST at Gary Hogan Field.