Final Stats

Box Score: LA Tech 8, UTA 3

RUSTON, La. - Speed was the name of the game Friday night as Louisiana Tech showed off its wheels by swiping 11 bases on its way to an 8-3 victory over UT Arlington to open the three-game series at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park in Ruston.

LA Tech (4-1) never trailed in the game and tacked on two runs in four different innings to clinch the victory over UT Arlington (3-3) and take a 1-0 lead in the series. Friday's win snapped a six-game losing streak against UT Arlington, while LA Tech has now won 10 straight non-conference home games dating back to last season. The Bulldogs can clinch the series with a win on Game 2 at 2 p.m. Saturday in Ruston.

LA Tech's 11 stolen bases in a single game shattered a school record with the previous high being seven during the 2007 season. Not a single Bulldog was thrown out on the base paths in the win. Taylor Love tied Jeff Richardson's record set in 1986 with four stolen bases against UT Arlington tonight.

"I thought our offense really competed tonight against a tremendous arm for UT Arlington," head coach Greg Goff said. "He is probably the best we've seen. I thought we had some good at bats and made his pitch count get up. I think he got a little tired. Overall, one through nine had competitive at bats and put some pressure on him."

Phillip Diehl (2-0) gave the Bulldogs a quality start on the mound with six innings and seven strikeouts, while the lefty allowed just one run and two walks to earn his second win of the short season. Righthander Nate Harris earned a three-inning save after coming on in the seventh and allowing two runs on five hits with three strikeouts.

As for the Mavericks, starter Joel Kuhnel (1-1) was charged with the loss after allowing four runs -- two earned -- on seven hits in 5.2 innings on the mound. Dylan Schneider came on in the fifth and gave up four unearned runs on three hits in two-thirds of an inning on the mound. UTA sent three more pitchers to the mound and held LA Tech scoreless over the final two innings of the game.

LA Tech got things started in the second when Love and Sean Ullrich led off the inning with back-to-back singles and later came around to score on a two-out single by Chandler Hall to put the Bulldogs up 2-0.

The lead was cut to one after UT Arlington scored on a sacrifice fly in the fifth, but LA Tech came right back in the bottom half of the inning and took advantage of a throwing error by the Mavericks to score two more to lead by three.

The Bulldogs added to its lead and provided themselves a cushion with two runs each in the sixth and seventh innings. The Mavericks plated a run in both the seventh and eighth, but LA Tech was able to hold on to a comfortable lead and close out the Friday night victory.

In addition to stealing four bases on the night, Love enjoyed a 3-for-4 night at the plate along with Raphael Gladu who also recorded three base hits, including a double and two RBI's. Ullrich was 2-for-4 with two runs scored, while Cody Daigle and Hall each recorded a hit for the Bulldogs. LA Tech totaled 10 base knocks in the win over UTA.

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