Game Notes

RUSTON, La. - Louisiana Tech is looking to build off back-to-back wins and its recent success at home when the Bulldogs host UTSA in a three-game league series this weekend beginning at 6 p.m. Friday at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park in Ruston.

The series continues at 3 p.m. Saturday before LA Tech and UTSA will wrap up the weekend with a 1 p.m. first pitch Sunday in Ruston.

LA Tech (21-21, 5-15 C-USA) comes into the weekend still in search of its first series victory, although the Bulldogs have come painfully close to doing so the last few weeks. Last weekend, the Bulldogs fell to FIU in a Saturday doubleheader in which both games went extra innings before LA Tech notched its first shutout win since 2013 with a 1-0 victory over the Panthers Sunday on the road.

"We know UTSA is physical and they can really hit," head coach Greg Goff said. "They have one of the best offenses in the league and score a lot of runs, so we are going to have to pitch very well and play good defense. We cannot afford to give UTSA any extra outs this weekend. I think it is going to be an offensive weekend, so we are going to have to score with them."

UTSA enters this weekend's series having won five of its last six games, three of which have come in Conference USA play. Overall, the Roadrunners are 27-18, including a 12-9 mark in the league, which ranks fourth in the conference standings. UTSA has come out on the winning side of things as of late, having won three of its last four C-USA series, with the latest being a 2-1 series victory over Southern Miss last weekend in San Antonio. The Roadrunners head to Ruston with a 9-8 record on the road and are coming off a 6-3 midweek win over Baylor.

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SERIES HISTORY

The Bulldogs are looking to snap a bad streak this weekend when UTSA comes to Ruston as the Roadrunners have won eight straight meetings over LA Tech dating back to 2001 and currently lead the all-time series, 8-1, over Tech. UTSA has swept LA Tech the last two seasons and won two of three over the Bulldogs prior to that during the 2001 season. Although the Bulldogs have broken into the win column just once in the all-time series, that does not mean the games have not been competitive with five of the nine total meetings between the two teams resulting in one-run affairs.

SCOUTING REPORT

At the plate

Louisiana Tech continues to see improvement offensively as the Bulldogs are hitting .296 in their last five games with a .261 overall team average. Outfielder Bryce Stark and first baseman Taylor Nichols are pacing the Bulldogs with a .294 and .293 batting average, respectively, while Taylor Love is hitting .281 and leads LA Tech with 27 runs driven in on the season thanks to four doubles and five home runs. As a whole, the Bulldogs have totaled 48 doubles, five triples and 21 home runs, while recording a .367 on base percentage after walking 162 times and being hit by a pitch 78 times, a mark that currently ranks first in the nation.

UTSA comes to Ruston as one of the top offensive teams in Conference USA as the Roadrunners are hitting .285 as a team with a league-high 100 doubles, eight triples and 39 home runs. At the dish, UTSA is ranked in the top five in almost every offensive category, while the Roadrunners are led by second baseman Jesse Baker, who enters the series with a .335 batting average, 18 doubles, 12 home runs and 39 RBIs.

On the mound

The Bulldogs will look slightly different on the mound this weekend as LA Tech is shuffling its pitching rotation against the Roadrunners. Instead of his usual Saturday start, senior right-hander Phil Maton (4-1, 3.07 ERA) will get the series underway by taking the mound Friday night in the opener. Maton currently leads all pitchers in C-USA with 64 strikeouts and is second all-time in LA Tech history with 298 career strikeouts heading into the weekend. LA Tech will send senior right-hander Laetten Galbraith (3-7, 2.97 ERA) to the mound Saturday, while junior lefty Tyler Clancy (5-4, 5.29 ERA) will get the ball Sunday in the series finale.

As for UTSA, the Roadrunners will send a pair of right-handers to the bump this weekend in Brock Hartson (3-3, 3.95 ERA) and Aaron Burns (6-3, 2.89 ERA), while UTSA has yet to name a starter for Sunday's finale. UTSA has a team ERA of 4.30 coming into the weekend.

PROMOTIONS

Fans coming out to the ballpark this weekend will experience a jam-packed series with multiple promotions scheduled for all three games against the Roadrunners. Beginning with the series opener Friday night, it is Faculty & Staff Appreciation night as all LA Tech faculty members can purchase discounted tickets to the game for $3.

On Saturday, Tech will honor all former Bulldogs as all past players, coaches and staffs are invited back to the Love Shack for LA Tech Legends Day. Saturday will also mark Military Appreciation Day with all military members and their families set to receive free entry to the 3 p.m. game with their military ID.

For Sunday's 1 p.m. series finale against UTSA, the first 250 Bulldog fans in attendance will receive a free LA Tech miniature baseball bat upon entry to the stadium. Sunday also marks Scout Day with a $3 ticket special for all boy and girl scouts in attendance. The Bulldogs will also host Kids Day Sunday as there will be a bounce house in front of the stadium, while kids will have the opportunity to have their faces painted at the ballpark.

WITH THE CALL

Fans can tune in to the LA Tech Sports Network on KNBB 97.7 FM to hear Dave Nitz call all the action from J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park for all three games against UTSA this weekend. The series between LA Tech and the Roadrunners can also be seen and heard by LA Tech All-Access subscribers, while live stats will be available by accessing the GameTracker link on the baseball schedule page on LATechSports.com.

ON DECK

The Bulldogs will have a break in the action next week as no midweek games are scheduled for just the second time this season. LA Tech will leave Thursday and head to Norfolk, Virginia to take on Old Dominion in a three-game league series, which is set to begin at 5 p.m. CT Friday, May 8 at Bud Metheny Baseball Complex.

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