March 26, 2011

Game One Box Score | Game Two Box Score

RUSTON, La. - Kyle Roliard's walk-off bunt single scored Will Alvis as Tech overcame a two-run deficit in the bottom of the ninth to knock off UTPA, 5-4, in game one of the doubleheader and Mike LeBreton allowed just one hit in 4.0 innings of shutout relief work to lead the Bulldogs to a series win as Tech dropped the Broncs in game two of the doubleheader, 9-5, Saturday afternoon at J.C. Love Field.

Game One: Louisiana Tech 5, UTPA 4

Trailing 4-2 in the bottom of the ninth, Joey Ford and Clint Ewing led off the inning with back-to-back singles and Will Alvis cut the deficit to just one run with an RBI single to left field.

With two outs and two runners on, Austin Hedges ripped a single to right center that evened the game at four runs apiece. On a 1-1 pitch and Alvis charging down the line, Roliard executed to perfection a squeeze bunt down the first base line and beat out the throw to first to clinch the come-from-behind victory for the Bulldogs.

Tech blasted five hits in the ninth and scored three runs as Roger Bernal (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing four hits in just 0.1 innings of work.

The win marked the first time that Tech had overcome a deficit in the ninth to win a game since May 21, 2009. Additionally, Roliard's walk-off bunt single was the first walk-off hit for the Bulldogs since Roliard accomplished the same feat last season against Texas-Wesleyan.

With the score knotted at one run apiece, the Broncs had an RBI single from Tom Sicking in the fifth and an RBI single up the middle from Colton Van Komen in the sixth to take a two-run lead on Tech starter, Mike Jefferson.

Jefferson allowed just one earned run in 5.1 innings of work, allowing five hits and striking out five batters while issuing no walks on the afternoon.

Tech trimmed the deficit in the seventh as Alvis took a 1-2 pitch from Cody Plunk and blasted it over the left field wall for his team-leading fifth home run of the season.

Plunk worked 7.0-plus innings allowing just two runs on six hits while fanning four Bulldogs to take the no decision.

In the eighth, the Broncs led off with back-to-back hits that put runners on the corners. However, reliever Caleb Dudley induced a six-four-three, twin-killing and a fly out to left that allowed just one run to score.

Dudley (2-2) picked up the win in relief after holding the Broncs to just one run on four hits in 3.2 innings of relief work.

Game Two: Louisiana Tech 9, UTPA 5

In the second game, the Bulldogs used a six-run fifth inning and Mike LeBreton's standout relief outing to clinch the series win.

The Broncs got on the board in the second inning Mike McCarthy tallied an RBI single to center field that scored Bernal.

Tech starter Jeb Stefan, who picked up his third win of the season, then settled in and allowed just five hits and one run while fanning a season-high five batters over 5.0 innings before the Bulldog bats exploded.

With one out, Taylor Terrasas got the fifth inning started as he was hit by Michael Zouzalik on a full-count. Tyler Qualls then singled through the right side and stole second and Ashton Hughes walked to load the bases for the Bulldogs.

Zouzalik then issued a walk to Hedges that scored Terrasas from third and Tech added a run as Roliard hit a sacrifice fly to left that scored Qualls. Zouzalik loaded the bases for the second time in the inning as Mark Threlkeld was hit by a pitch.

Looking to stifle the rally, the Broncs called upon Luis Flores from the pen who immediately issued a two-run single up the middle from Alex Williams that scored both Hedges and Hughes. After Joey Ford was hit by a pitch, Alvis belted a two-run single to left center that gave the Bulldogs a 6-1 lead.

The six runs scored in the inning marked the most runs that the Bulldogs had scored in a game since Tech plated nine runs in the first inning against Nevada on May 21, 2010.

Despite striking out six batters and allowing just three hits, Zouzalik (1-1) took the loss after allowing five runs on three walks and three hit batters.

In the top of the sixth, the Broncs roughed up both Josh Barrett and Marc Picciola to the tune of four runs on five hits. Looking to hold onto the lead, Mike LeBreton entered the game with the bases loaded and no outs and promptly stuck out Richard Bandrich and forced Adrian De La Rose to ground into a double play to end the inning and retain the Tech lead.

The Bulldogs added a run in the bottom of the inning on an RBI single from Hedges then picked up two insurance runs in the eighth as both Roliard and Williams tallied RBI base hits.

LeBreton worked the final 4.0 innings for the Bulldogs allowing just one hit in the eighth while striking out a season-high four batters to record his second career save.

Louisiana Tech (12-12) returns to action Tuesday evening at 6 p.m. CT as the Bulldogs host Southern Arkansas in a midweek contest at J.C. Love Field.

Notes: Louisiana Tech is now 36-16 all-time against UTPA... The win in game one snapped a 13-game losing streak against teams from the state of Texas... The walk-off win was the second of the season for the Bulldogs... Joey Ford tallied his 12th multi-hit performance of the season and his fourth in the past five games... With two hits in both games, Austin Hedges established a new career-high... His two-RBI in the second game tied a career-high... Ford (5), Roliard (5), Threlkeld (6), Alvis (3) and Ewing (4) all extended hitting streaks... Tyler Qualls threw out his first runner on a steal attempt in game two of the doubleheader... The three RBI from Williams in game one tied a career-high and marks the second-straight game in which he has notched three RBI... Threlkeld has made 95 consecutive starts.