Final Stats

Box Score

RUSTON, La. - Sophomore right-hander Braden Bristo gave Louisiana Tech a quality start on the mound and the Bulldogs used some timely hitting to complete a 3-2 victory over in-state foe ULM Wednesday night at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

Down 2-0 to ULM heading to the bottom of the fifth, LA Tech (12-13) rallied to score two in the fifth on a single by Conner Tobias before Taylor Nichols drove in the game-winner in the sixth to clinch its second victory over an I-20 opponent this week. Wednesday's game marked the first time LA Tech and ULM have played each other in seven years, while the victory marked the fourth straight for the Bulldogs dating back to the 2007 season.

"We are not going to out-hit a bunch of people, but we can execute and do the little things right," head coach Greg Goff. "I am so proud of Braden and the job he did on the mound tonight. I thought he was in complete control out there. ULM is a very good ball club that can really hit, so I was very happy with the way we competed tonight. Our guys play hard and play together to find ways to win games.

"Our crowd was incredible tonight and it was really the best it has been all season. That really means a lot to our guys and that is something we want to build on. We want to play well in front of our fans and make sure they are excited to come out and watch us play baseball here at home."

In his first appearance since March 15, Bristo started on the mound for the Bulldogs and pitched a solid 5.2 innings, while the Monroe native allowed two runs on eight hits before leaving in the sixth with the game tied 2-2. Laetten Galbraith (3-4) earned the win for LA Tech after coming on in relief with two outs in the sixth and holding ULM scoreless through 1.1 innings. To end the night, Adam Atkins pitched the final two innings, allowing just two hits, to pick up his third save of the season.

A total of seven Warhawk pitchers kept LA Tech hitters off balance for most of the night as the Bulldogs totaled five hits compared to 10 by ULM, but timely hitting was the key for Tech getting the win. The fifth pitcher of the night for ULM, Cole Hendrix, was charged with the loss after allowing the third and final LA Tech run to score in the bottom of the sixth. Hendrix (0-1) pitched one inning and gave up two hits to the five batters he faced.

Jacob Stockton led off the third with a single to center for the Warhawks to help ULM jump out to a 1-0 lead over LA Tech on a sacrifice fly by Keelin Rasch later in the inning. Stockton once again led things off for ULM in the top of the fifth with a triple to right field before coming home to score on another sacrifice fly by Dalton Todd to give the Warhawks a 2-0 advantage midway through the game.

LA Tech hitters started a rally of their own in the bottom of the fifth when Zac Burger and Mason Paxton reached on a walk and hit by pitch to give the Bulldogs two runners on with one out. Both Burger and Paxton moved into scoring position and came around to score on a two-run single up the middle by Conner Tobias to tie the game, 2-2, after five innings.

Bristo got into a bit of a jam in the top of the sixth when ULM started a two-out rally with a walk and infield single, but Galbraith entered the game in relief to force a ground ball to end the threat and keep the game tied, 2-2.

The Bulldogs got the bats going once again in the bottom of the sixth when Bryce Stark led things off with a single to right field and reached third on a double to left by Brent Diaz. Nichols then drove in the go-ahead run on a ground ball to the right side to put LA Tech up 3-2 over the Warhawks.

Tobias led the Bulldogs with a 1-for-3 night at the plate, while the senior right-fielder drove home a team-high two runs to tie the game in the fifth. Stark recorded his second straight multiple-hit night after going 2-for-4 with a run scored against the Warhawks. Nichols drove in the game-winning run for LA Tech in the sixth on a ground ball in the infield.

ULM was led by Stockton and Hemphill as the duo accounted for five of the 10 hits the Warhawks totaled Wednesday night.

LA Tech continues its home stand with a three-game Conference USA series against WKU beginning at 6 p.m. Friday at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park in Ruston.

For complete coverage of Bulldog Baseball, please follow @LATechBSB on Twitter or visit the official home of Louisiana Tech Athletics at LATechSports.com.