May 28, 2011

Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery

MESA, Ariz. - Louisiana Tech threw everything and everyone it had at Hawaii - literally. However, the nine pitchers and 19 overall players Tech had weren't enough to rally from a 12-4 deficit as the Bulldogs were eliminated from the WAC Tournament by top-seeded Hawaii, 18-10.

Louisiana Tech (34-27) ended its season after a week of firsts; including winning more games and going farther in the WAC Tournament than any other team in school history. Hawaii (34-24) advances to face No. 2 Fresno State in the WAC Tournament Championship game.

Starter Kyle Roliard (1-3) was charged with the loss after allowing eight runs on seven hits in 3.2 innings while walking three and striking out four. Randy Yard (3-0) was credited with the win after holding Tech scoreless on two hits in 2.0 innings of relief while Lenny Linsky (14) was credited with the save after allowing one hit and striking out two over the final 1.1 innings.

Will Alvis continued to power the Bulldog offense with a 2-for-6 performance with one RBI and two runs scored, notching his ninth double of the season. Mark Threlkeld was 2-for-6 with two runs scored and three RBI off of a three-run home run in the sixth inning..

After an Alex Williams two-run double to left center in the bottom of the first gave Tech the early advantage, Hawaii struck back with seven runs on four hits while Roliard walked three batters in the top of the second. The Rainbow Warriors capped off the inning with a Kolten Wong two-run home run to left field.

An RBI single that extended Ryan Gebhardt's hitting streak to 17 games and an RBI groundout by Austin Hedges cut the Warrior advantage to 7-4 in the bottom of the second but UH would tack on five more runs over the next three innings to pull away with the 12-4 lead.

Threlkeld's home run in the sixth made it a 12-7 game and the Bulldogs added a run in the seventh on a Justin Gordey RBI single to second. Tech added two more runs in the eighth on a two-run single to left field by Hedges to cut the UH lead to 12-10.

Hawaii pulled away in the top of the ninth with six runs on three hits while facing four different Louisiana Tech pitchers in the inning. Linsky sealed the save by retiring all three batters faced in the ninth.

The loss ended Tech's run in the WAC Tournament as the Bulldogs had advanced to the elimination bracket final game. Tech ended the year winning more WAC Tournament games than in any single year and advancing farther than any team in school history has. A preseason pick to finish sixth in the league, Tech was the No. 3 seed entering the tournament. Tech's 34 wins are the most for a Bulldog team since 2007.

For complete coverage of Bulldog Baseball, please visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at LATechSports.com.