RUSTON, La. - Following up a successful home opener, the Louisiana Tech baseball team will remain in Ruston throughout the weekend, welcoming SIUE to the Love Shack for a three-game series, starting this Friday at 6 p.m.

Tech Overall Stats
SIUE Overall Stats

LA Tech enters this weekend on a two-game winning streak, while SIUE dropped its first two contests last weekend. This will be the first-ever matchup between the two programs.

Tech opened its home schedule on Tuesday, taking down McNeese by a 5-1 final. Bulldog starter David Leal went seven strong innings, allowing no earned runs and lowering Tech's team ERA to 1.19 - the seventh-best mark in the nation, and tops in Conference USA.

Of Tech's five different starters this season (Matt Miller, Logan Robbins, Tyler Follis, Logan Bailey and Leal), all five have pitched into the sixth inning, giving the team opportunities to utilize the depth of the bullpen - one of Tech's greatest strengths so far in 2018.

After scoring just four runs in the 'Dogs' first three games of the season, the offense has seemingly found its stride, putting up 14 runs in its last two contests, both of which ended up in the win column.

Outfielders Mason Mallard and Parker Bates have reached base safely in every game this season, while Mason Robinson leads the outfielders and ranks second on the squad with a .316 batting average.

Junior catcher Chris Clayton has done an admirable job handling a brand new pitching staff as a newcomer, but has also had a productive start at the dish. In his last three games, Clayton has gone 4 -for-8 with three RBI, three walks and three runs scored. He leads the Tech offense with a .333 average, .585 slugging, .529 OBP, and is tied for the team lead with three runs scored and three RBI.

RS-junior right-hander Matt Miller will get the ball on Friday night's series opener. The Aurora, Illinois, native will look for a repeat of his brilliant performance in game one of last weekend's series. Miller went seven strong innings, allowed just two hits and struck out 10 (including eight of his first nine) in a tough no decision.

Junior lefties Logan Robbins and Logan Bailey are slated to throw Saturday and Sunday, respectively. Robbins went 5.1 innings allowing just one earned run in Tech's 3-2 win over the Waves on Saturday, while Bailey went five strong and struck out four in Sunday's 9-3 triumph.

SIUE went 1-2 against Southeastern Louisiana last weekend. Jackson Layton leads the team with 11 total bases and is slugging 1.222 early on with a pair of home runs.

The Cougars are expected to start senior right-hander Nelson Martz on Friday night. Martz had a rough outing last weekend, only getting two outs into the fourth, while allowing five earned runs and walking four.

Junior southpaw Ryan Bird is scheduled to make his season debut on Saturday, while RS-sophomore Kenny Serwa (3.60 ERA, 5.0 IP, 6 H, 2 ER, 1 BB, 2 K) is set to pitch Sunday's finale.

All three games (Friday 6 p.m., Saturday 2 p.m., Sunday 1 p.m.) will be streamed live on CUSA.tv (subscription required). Mark Cramer will be on the call for all three contests. Friday and Sunday's games can be heard on SportsTalk 97.7, while Saturday's game can be streamed live through the LA Tech X Mobile App. In game updates will be provided by following the Bulldogs on Twitter @LATechBSB.