Box Score April 14, 2018 Box Score
RUSTON, La. - The No. 25 Louisiana Tech baseball team fell 9-1 and 6-4 in a Saturday doubleheader against the visiting Charlotte 49ers on Saturday from J.C. Love Field.
The Bulldogs (24-13, 9-5 C-USA) dropped their first weekend series of the season, while Charlotte (18-16, 7-7 C-USA) claimed its first Conference-USA series triumph since March 23-25 at Middle Tennessee.
The 49ers outhit Tech 24-14 in the two-game set, and sent Tech to its first three-game losing streak of 2018.
Game 1 Recap
In the first game of the series, Tech raced out to an early lead in the bottom of the first inning. The top of the lineup continued to jumpstart the early offense, as Hunter Wells walked to lead things off. Mason Mallard then singled through the left side, and then both Wells and Mallard moved into scoring position via a passed ball. Tech third baseman Tanner Huddleston then lofted a fly ball to intermediate center field, deep enough to score Mallard on the sacrifice.
With a 1-0 lead, Tech starting pitcher Matt Miller (3-2, 5.1 IP, 6 H, 5 ER, 4 BB, 3 BB) worked scoreless second and third frames before running into trouble in the fourth, as Charlotte catcher Zack Smith singled up the middle, scoring Harris Yett, and tying the game at one.
Charlotte would then tack on two more runs in the fifth and the sixth, chasing Miller, as Tech went to left-hander Quinton Logan. The southpaw went 2.2 innings, allowing two runs (both earned), while striking out a pair.
Leading 5-1, the 49ers used a two-run home run from Jackson Mims (3-for-5, 3 RBI) en route to a four-run ninth, putting the game out of reach.
Charlotte starter Josh Maciejewski (5-2, 7.0 IP, 4 H, 5 K, 1 BB) stymied the Tech offense, limiting the 'Dogs to just four hits across his seven innings pitched.
Mason Robinson paced the Tech offense, going 2-for-3 at the dish.
Game 2 Recap
In the second leg of the doubleheader, the Tech offense came out firing on all cylinders, striking for a four-run first inning off 49ers' starter Matt Brooks.
Wells once again led off the game with a walk, bringing up Dalton Skelton, who put a charge into a 3-1 fastball, depositing his fifth home run of the season over the wall in left-center field. Then, with a 2-0 lead, Mason Mallard singled up the middle and stole second. Mallard's swipe was his 17th of the season, and the speedy left fielder remains perfect in stolen-base attempts this season. Parker Bates then singled up the middle, scoring Mallard, and putting Tech ahead 3-0. With two outs, and Bates at second, Logan Bailey pulled a ground-rule double over the wall in right field, scoring Bates, and putting a four spot in the first.
However, as in game one, the Tech offense would be unable to put anything together the rest of the evening, as Matt Brooks, Colby Bruce, Matt Horkey and Jonah Patten would hold the 'Dogs scoreless over the final eight innings.
Tech starter Logan Robbins was sharp through the first six innings, allowing just one run in the fifth. However, in the seventh, Charlotte struck for five runs (three charged to Robbins), highlighted by a three-run blast from Drew Ober off Tyler Follis (3-2). Tech committed two errors in the inning, paving the way for the go-ahead blast.
Tech and Charlotte will return to action in the series finale tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. Left-hander Logan Bailey is set to start for the 'Dogs, while the 49ers will counter with fellow southpaw Joey Cooner.
