April 5, 2011

Box Score

RUSTON, La. - Mark Threlkeld hit his fourth home run of the season but the Northwestern State pitching staff held Louisiana Tech in check as the Demons knocked off the Bulldogs, 5-3, Tuesday night at J.C. Love Field.

Northwestern State picked up a run in the first inning off of Bulldog starter Kyle Roliard with an RBI single from Chris Hebert. The Demons then added a pair of runs in the second on a botched double play ball that would have potentially ended the inning for Roliard.

Roliard (0-1) was charged with his first loss of the season as he allowed three runs on five hits while hitting two batters and striking out two in 2.0 innings of work.

Trailing by three, Corey White led off the third with a single to the gap in left center. Following a fly-out to center, Mark Threlkeld took a 1-1 pitch from Jacob Roark and put it over the wall in left field for a two-run homer.

In the fifth, Colin Bear led off the inning with a double down the right field line and was moved over to third on a sacrifice bunt. Adding to the Demon lead, Matt Farmer ripped a double down the left field line, scoring Bear. NSU added one more run in the inning on an RBI single through the right side from Nick Hinojos.

In the bottom half of the inning, Ryan Gebhardt ripped a single up the middle to start the fifth and Corey White followed that up as he was hit by a pitch from Roark. With two runners on, Roliard sent a liner into the gap in right center that scored Gebhardt and put two runners in scoring position with no outs.

Looking to end the rally, the Demons called upon Mathias Simmons to face Threlkeld. On the first pitch of the at-bat, Threlkeld flied out to shallow center field and Drew Helenihi gunned down White at the plate as he was attempting to score on the tag. Mason Melotakis then entered the game and struck out Alex Williams to end the inning.

Simmons (1-0) was credited with the win while Melotakis was dominant over 3.1 innings of work allowing just three hits while striking out seven batters.

After a leadoff single in the ninth from Austin Hedges, the Demons went to closer Dustin Northcott who struck out two batters and forced White to ground out to short to end the game, picking up his third save of the season.

Louisiana Tech (15-13) returns to action Friday evening at 6 p.m. as the Bulldogs play host to New Mexico State in the conference opener at J.C. Love Field.

Notes: Louisiana Tech is now 83-60 all-time against Northwestern State... The loss snaps a two game winning streak against Northwestern State... Tech is 4-9 against Northwestern State during the Simoneaux era...Tech is now 12-3 at home this season...The loss snaps a five-game winning streak... The 13 strikeouts marked the most since Tech struck out 13 times at No. 25 Rice on March 18, 2011... Kyle Roliard is now 0-3 in his three career starts... Roliard extended his season-long hitting streak to nine games... Roliard has now hit safely in 13-straight games at J.C. Love Field... Clint Ewing saw his seven game hitting streak come to an end... Mark Threlkeld has made 99 consecutive starts.