May 3, 2012
Game Notes | WAC Tournament Form
RUSTON - After taking two-out-of-three from the Rainbows of Hawai'i last weekend, Louisiana Tech (20-23, 3-9 WAC) concludes its 2012 home stand and hosts San Jose State (21-19, 5-4 WAC) for a three-game series beginning on Friday at 6 p.m. at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
Game two is scheduled for a 3 p.m. start on Saturday while the series finale begins at 1 p.m. on Sunday. Sunday's game will be "senior day" as first baseman Alex Williams and center fielder Justin Gordey will be honored before first pitch.
Jeb Stefan (2-6) takes the hill for the Bulldogs in the series opener and is coming off a nine strikeout, season-high 8.1 innings performance against Hawai'i.
Freshman Phil Maton (6-4) gets the start on Saturday afternoon and is coming off of his first collegiate conference victory. The right-hander struck out seven in 7.0 innings to record his sixth win of the season and leads the Bulldog pitching staff in wins (6), innings pitched (69.0), ERA (3.26) and opponent's batting average (.239).
San Jose State sends southpaw Johnny Melero (2-5) to the hill on Friday. The sophomore boasts a 2.94 ERA and leads the Spartans with 59.0 innings pitched. Right-hander Esteban Guzman (1-1) gets the start on Saturday looking for his second win on the year. Guzman was drafted in the 17th round by the Washington Nationals in the 2011 Major League Baseball first-year player draft and did not sign.
Tech defeated Hawai'i 9-4 and 4-1 in games two and three, respectively, as Phil Maton, Jamie Gilley, Caleb Dudley and Trevor Petersen combined to allow just five runs - four earned - in 18.0 innings (2.00 ERA).
Fans can follow the game live via Game Tracker on LATechSports.com for in-game updates and listen to "the voice of the Bulldogs", Dave Nitz, on the LA Tech Sports Network. Games one and three of the series will be broadcast on ESPN 97.7 and Saturday's is on KXKZ 107.5.
For complete coverage of Bulldog Baseball, please follow @LATechKQueliz and @LATechBSB on Twitter or visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at LATechSports.com.
QUICK HITS
- Louisiana Tech has 30 home runs through 43 games this season, one year after totaling 28 home runs in 63 games.
- Senior first baseman Alex Williams leads the Western Athletic Conference with 10 home runs.
- Williams is tied with Jeff Best for five all-time in Tech history in games played (209)
- Williams has started 110 consecutive games for the Bulldogs.
- Williams and shortstop Ryan Gebhardt have started all 43 games for the Bulldogs while Gebhardt has played every inning of every game.
- Williams has reached base safely in 13 consecutive games.
- Jeb Stefan has thrown three consecutive quality starts.
- Austin Hedges has reached base safely in 12 consecutive games.
- Caleb Dudley is tied with Andrew Alsup for the all-time appearances record in Tech history (78)
- Tech is 17-3 when leading after seven innings.
SCOUTING THE SPARTANS
- San Jose State enters Ruston for a three-game series beginning on Friday, May 4 at 6 p.m. at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
- Tech defeated the Spartans, 9-5, on May 27 of last season to eliminate the Spartans from the WAC tournament.
- Southpaw Johnny Melero (2-5) aces a strong rotation for the Spartans that averages a 3.68 ERA. Melero gets the start in the series opener on Friday.
- The Spartans (21-19, 5-4 WAC) defeated seventh-ranked Stanford, 8-7, at home on Tuesday.
- Closer Zack Jones has seven saves thus far this season in 15 appearances and has struck out 51 hitters in 45.2 innings.
- Esteban Guzman (1-1) gets the start on Saturday afternoon looking for his second win of the season.
- SJSU is led offensively by outfielder Nick Schulz. The junior is hitting .290 with three home runs and 18 RBI, all tops on the team. Kalei Contrades and Jason Kafka boast a 1.96 ERA in 14 games and 13 games out of the bullpen, respectively.
ON DECK
The Bulldogs five-game road trip to conclude the 2012 regular season begins as Tech heads to Northwestern State on Wednesday, May 9.
