May 1, 2011

Box Score

RUSTON, La. - Mark Joukoff kept the Louisiana Tech offense in check after firing 6.2 innings in relief as Nevada knocked off the Bulldogs, 10-6, in the series finale Sunday afternoon at J.C. Love Field.

Nevada (16-23, 5-6 WAC) got on the scoreboard in the first as Brian Barnett sent a two-run shot over the left field wall on a 2-2 pitch from Ben Carlisle. The Bulldogs answered in the bottom of the inning when Kyle Roliard hit his first home run of the season and the sixth of his career.

The Bulldogs then sent seven-straight batters to the plate without recording an out in the second inning as Tech pounded out four runs on five hits on Nevada starter, Brock Stassi. Justin Gordey started the offensive onslaught with an RBI single down the right field line and Roliard followed with a two-run single up the middle before Mark Threlkeld capped off the scoring with an RBI single to right.

With the bases loaded and Tech looking to add more runs, Alex Williams sent a hot shot liner to Barnett at second base who then turned and doubled up Ryan Gebhardt at second. Joukoff got the Wolf Pack out of the inning after inducing Austin Hedges to ground out.

Joukoff (2-5) held the Bulldogs to just one unearned run in the fifth as Roliard scored from third on a failed pickoff attempt from Carlos Escobar Jr. The right-handed reliever allowed five hits, issued five walks and fanned three batters while picking up the win in 6.2 innings of relief work.

Trailing 5-2 heading to the third, the Wolf Pack capitalized on a few tough-luck hops in the infield and quickly loaded the bases on Carlisle forcing Tech to make a pitching change in favor for Dan Breazeale. Nevada then collected five runs on three more hits in the inning to take a 7-5 lead.

The Wolf Pack added a pair of runs in the fifth and Jamison Rowe homered in the eighth to cap the scoring for Nevada.

Breazeale (1-1) was charged with his first loss of the season as he allowed two runs on three hits in 1.0 innings of work. Despite allowing five runs on five hits in 2.0 innings of work, Carlisle did not factor into the decision.

Louisiana Tech (24-22, 7-9 WAC) continues their 11-game homestand with a midweek contest against UT Arlington on Tuesday night. First pitch against the Mavericks is scheduled for 6 p.m. CT at J.C. Love Field.

Notes: Louisiana Tech is now 13-38 all-time against Nevada... Ryan Gebhardt (5), Kyle Roliard (9) and Justin Gordey (4) extended hitting streaks while Alex Williams saw his five-game streak come to and end...Roliard tallied his fifth multi-RBI game of the season...Threlkeld has made 116 consecutive starts... Roliard is the first Bulldog to hit a leadoff homer since Patrick Thomas accomplished the feat on April 4, 2009.