Box Score April 26, 2011
Box Score
RUSTON, La. - Colby Johnson was 2-for-2 at the plate and Louisiana Tech pounded out nine hits as the Bulldogs knocked off Grambling State, 5-2, in a weather-shortened game Tuesday night at J.C. Love Field.
With two-outs in the top of the second, Marc Picciola hit consecutive batters and Grambling State scored a run as Richard Bautista's chopper to short scored Brandon Hall from second courtesy of aggressive base running. Picciola was able to work out of the jam as he stranded the bases loaded before working a perfect third inning.
Picciola (1-0) picked up his first career win in relief after allowing one run on one walk and two hit batters in 2.0 innings of work.
Tech got on the board in the bottom of the third as Tyler Qualls drew a leadoff walk and advanced to third on a single from Ryan Gebhardt before Kyle Roliard drove him in with an RBI base knock up the middle. The Bulldogs added a run when Austin Hedges grounded into a double play and capped off the three-run inning as Mark Threlkeld belted his sixth home run of the season down the left field line.
Grambling State (17-21) added an unearned run in the top of the fourth as Hector Mejias scored on an RBI ground out from Bautista. Tech responded in the bottom of the inning as Joey Ford led off with a double down the left field line and later scored on an RBI fielder's choice from Will Alvis.
The Bulldogs added a run in the fifth inning courtesy of an infield single from Alex Williams that scored Ryan Gebhardt who had reached on an error to start the inning.
Zach Moreau (2-3) was charged with the loss after allowing four earned runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings of work.
After a one-out single through the left side from Alvis in the bottom of the sixth, the game was delayed at 7:35 p.m. due to lighting in the area and was later called at 8:16 p.m.
Louisiana Tech (20-21) returns to action tomorrow evening at 6:30 p.m. as the Bulldogs travel to Northwestern State before returning home for an 11-game homestand.
Notes: Louisiana Tech is now 16-3 all-time against Grambling State... Tech has won 14-straight games in the series... Tech improves to 15-5 this season at J.C. Love Field... Tech has won 21 of their last 26 games at J.C. Love Field...Colby Johnson has now hit safely in five-straight games (8-for-16, .500)...Marc Picciola picked up his first career win... Mark Threlkeld has made 112 consecutive starts.
