April 19, 2011

Box Score

HONOLULU, HI - Jeffrey Van Doornum doubled down the right field line and later scored on an unearned run as Hawai'i tallied three runs with two-outs in the bottom of the seventh inning to knock off Louisiana Tech, 5-2, to clinch the four-game series Monday evening at Les Murakami Stadium.

Zack Swasey notched a one-out single through the left side off of Ben Carlisle before Michael Blake drove him in with a double down the left field line to give Hawai'i (21-15, 7-1 WAC) an early lead in the second inning. The `Bows then added a run as Collin Bennett reached on a fielding error from Austin Hedges that allowed Blake to come around and score to give UH a two-run lead.

Tech responded in the top of the third as Ashton Hughes singled up the middle and moved to third on a one-out, ground rule double from Kyle Roliard. With two runners in scoring position, Mark Threlkeld broke out of a 0-for-9 slump with a two-run double to right field that scored both Hughes and Roliard to even the game at two runs apiece.

In the bottom half of the inning, Carlisle walked the bases loaded before Dan Breazeale entered the game and forced Swasey to ground out to short to strand the bases loaded. In his first career start, Carlisle allowed just one earned run on two hits in 2.2 innings of work as he fanned two batters and walked three.

UH again loaded the bases in the bottom of the sixth as Breazeale ran into trouble but senior Mike LeBreton needed just two pitches to force Garrett Champion to ground into an inning-ending double play.

The Bulldogs put leadoff runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings but Tech was unable to execute on two hit-and-run situations that resulted in both Clint Ewing and Ryan Gebhardt being caught in rundowns that ultimately stifled any momentum on offense.

In the bottom of the seventh, LeBreton walked the leadoff batter before Caleb Dudley retired the next two batters. With two outs, Tech opted to walk All-American candidate Kolten Wong to face Van Dorrnum who then ripped the go-ahead, two-run double to right. The `Bows then added a run as Swasey reached on a throwing error from Threlkeld that allowed Dorrnum to score from second.

LeBreton (1-3) was charged with the loss after allowing one run on one hit in 0.2 innings of work. In total, the Tech pitching staff allowed nine walks while striking out seven batters and allowing just four hits on the evening.

Blair Walters and Lenny Linsky combined to shutdown the Bulldogs over the last 3.1 innings of the game as Walters picked up his fourth win of the season and Linsky notched his seventh save on the year.

Louisiana Tech (18-18, 3-5 WAC) continues their eight-game roadtrip and will open up a four-game set at San Jose State beginning Thursday evening at 8 p.m. CT.

Notes: Louisiana Tech is now 24-28 all-time against Hawai'i... Tech is now 1-12 this season outside the state of Louisiana... Mark Threlkeld has made 107 consecutive starts... Ryan Gebhardt has now hit safely in his last nine games... Colby Johnson tallied his first career double... Ben Carlisle made his first career start... Carlisle becomes the 12th different pitcher to start a game this season for Louisiana Tech.