May 10, 2011
Game Notes
RUSTON, La. - After an impressive series split with 19th-ranked Fresno State this past weekend, Louisiana Tech wraps up their 11-game homestand with a doubleheader against Mississippi Valley State on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m. at J.C. Love Field while game two of the afternoon will begin 45 minutes after the conclusion of the first game.
During the homestand, the Bulldogs have posted a .334 team batting average with Kyle Roliard hitting .455 and Justin Gordey hitting .417 during those games. In total, Tech has raised their season batting average nearly 15 points since returning from their west coast swing.
With the MVSU doubleheader marking the final home games at J.C. Love Field this season, it will also mark the final games played for Tech's six-member senior class. Prior to start of the second game, Will Alvis, John Anderson, Josh Barrett, Clint Ewing, Joey Ford and Mike LeBreton will all be honored on field with the parents.
During the game, the voice of the Bulldogs, Dave Nitz, will host Louisiana Tech head coach Wade Simoneaux's "Inside Tech Baseball" radio show live from the press box at J.C. Love Field. The show will air live from 6-7 p.m. and can be heard on ESPN 97.7 and www. LATechSports.com.
All home games this season will be streamed live courtesy of LA Tech All-Access while live stats will be provided via Game Tracker on www.LATechSports.com, the official home page for Louisiana Tech Athletics.
ON DECK
Following the two games with Mississippi Valley State, the Bulldogs will take the remainder of the weekend off. Tech returns to action next Friday at 5 p.m. CT as the Bulldogs travel to Sacramento State to begin a four-game set with the Hornets to wrap up the regular season. The Diamond Dawgs will then travel to the WAC Tournament that will be held from May 25-29 at Hohokam Stadium (Mesa, Ariz.).
QUICK HITS
• Wednesday will mark the first meeting between the two schools since Feb. 9, 2003.
• Tech is 8-0 all-time against MVSU and 2-0 during the Simoneaux era.
• Tech has posted a 21-8 record this season at J.C. Love Field.
• Tech has won 27 of their last 33 games at J.C. Love Field.
• Tech's win over No. 19 Fresno State marked the first win over a ranked team since March 4, 2008 (No. 11 Baylor).
• The five shutouts from Tech this season are the most since Tech had six in 1990.
• The shutout against Hawai'i was also the first time Tech had shutout an opponent on the road since March 11, 2005 when Tech knocked off Nicholls State, 1-0.
• Tech is 17-1 this season when leading after eight innings.
• Tech is 162-7 since the 2004 season when leading after eight innings.
• Tech has featured 37 different starting lineups in 51 games this season.
• Tech is 2-1 this season in extra innings games.
• Tech has picked off 13 runners to lead the WAC.
• Tech is hitting .318 at home while hitting .232 on the road.
• Kyle Roliard has hit safely in 14-straight games as the leadoff hitter (22-for-50, .440).
• Ryan Gebhardt has hit safely in 15-straight home games (20-for-50,.400).
• Mark Threlkeld and Will Alvis rank second in the WAC with seven home runs.
• The 13 home runs allowed by the Bulldogs' pitching staff are the fewest in the WAC.
• Mark Threlkeld ranks second in the WAC with 16 doubles.
• Caleb Dudley leads the WAC with 26 appearances on the mound.
• Dudley is tied for first with Matt Buckle (200) on the all-time single-season list with nine saves.
• Mike Jefferson leads the WAC with nine pickoffs on the season.
• Jefferson's complete game against Fresno State was the second of his career and came exactly one year to the date after throwing his first against Sacramento State (5/8/2010).
SCOUTING THE DELTA DEMONS
Mississippi Valley State (18-31, 14-9 SWAC) enters the week after dropping two of their three games this past weekend with Jackson State. The Delta Demons are scheduled to play at Mississippi State Tuesday night prior to traveling to Ruston for a doubleheader with the Bulldogs.
MVSU is currently ranked second in the western division of the SWAC and has posted a .270 team batting average. Scott Hornstra leads the club with a .361 batting average and has posted 21 doubles and six home runs on the season while driving in a team-high 48 runs. Michael Lowe is the only other person on the MVSU squad that has posted a .300-plus batting average, checking in at .306 with six doubles, six triples and 32 RBI.
As a staff, the Delta Demons have struggled to the tune of a 7.03 ERA in 392.0 innings of work. The staff has issued 221 walks and hit 75 batters while striking out 280 hitters. Opposing teams are hitting .309 against MVSU and have posted 36 home runs on the season. MVSU is a threat to steal as they have posted 109 steals on 148 attempts this season.
The last time the two clubs met came during the 2003 season in which the Bulldogs knocked off MVSU in a pair of home-and-home games. The wins marked the second and third wins for Coach Simoneaux as a head coach at Louisiana Tech.
