Final Stats

RUSTON, La. - On Friday afternoon, Louisiana Tech fell to Southern Miss, 5-2 in their first Conference USA action on the young season.

The Bulldogs dropped to 15-3 on the season, while Southern Miss moved to 14-4.

Louisiana Tech scratched for seven hits on the night as Chase Lunceford and Sean Ullrich each registered multiple hits.

After Southern Miss scored two runs in the top of the second, the Diamond 'Dogs immediately responded with one of their own in the bottom half as an RBI-double from Ullrich scored Lunceford.

The Bulldogs would go on to knot things up in the bottom of the third as Chase Lunceford ripped a double down the right field line to score Brent Diaz.

A three-run sixth for the Golden Eagles was the difference in the ball game. Southern Miss loaded the bases with just one out and catcher Bryant Bowen took an inside pitch and dropped it just beyond the reach of Cody Daigle. The Texas Leaguer dropped between three Bulldogs and brought the go-ahead run in to score.

Louisiana Tech would walk in the next run and the final Southern Miss run of the game would score on a sacrifice fly that was anything but routine. A ball that looked like it might find the gap, Ullrich raced from center to make the diving catch and save multiple runs.

Graham Ahlrich and Aaron Sheppard would pitch the final 3.2 innings for Louisiana Tech, not allowing a run. Sheppard retired all six batters he faced.

Southern Miss preseason all-Conference USA pitcher Kirk McCarty got the win for the Golden Eagles tossing 6 innings and allowing just two earned runs. Matt Wallner earned his first save of the season. Wallner did not give up a hit over his three innings pitch, slamming the door on any chance of a comeback.

Louisiana Tech and Southern Miss return to the diamond tomorrow afternoon with first pitch set for 2 p.m. The game will be broadcast on ESPN 97.7 and streamed on CUSA.TV.