Written by: Alex Heard

There is some really good chemistry and growth going on in Ruston.

It is not only occurring in the math and science buildings, or out on Tech Farm but, also, on the baseball diamond at J.C. Love field, as the Louisiana Tech baseball team is grooving.

Tech currently holds a 31-15 overall record with a 15-6 record in Conference-USA play - good for second place, just a game and a half behind Southern Miss for the league's top spot.

In the fall, Tech hired a new pitching coach in Cory Barton. Barton was previously the pitching coach at McNeese State for the past three seasons (2014-17) and prior to that, served as an assistant at UL-Monroe (2008-13).

Most of the time, new coaching means a steep learning curve - it normally takes a while, sometimes multiple seasons, for players to truly buy into and trust what this new face in the clubhouse is trying to convey. Especially when a majority of the players are new to the program - six of Tech's pitchers this season are newcomers - including three of its four primary starters (David Leal, Logan Robbins and Logan Bailey).

However, Tech has not had any growth issues with Barton, as the team currently boasts a 2.72 ERA - good for third in the nation, and tops among Conference USA.

Barton credits baseball's long offseason for allowing him and his young staff to grow together and trust each other.

"The good thing for us is that we play a spring sport and have the whole fall together," Barton noted. "There were not a whole lot of guys from last year's staff. A lot of the arms were new and sometimes that helps - there is not a different voice for them. It kind of helps to have a fresh start. I told them in fall meetings that we are starting from scratch. Everyone was starting from ground zero, including me. I had to earn their trust and vice-versa."

Lane Burroughs, second-year head coach for the Bulldogs, said Barton's relationship with the players has been a huge factor to their success.

"When you hire an assistant you look for guys that are going to develop a relationship," Burroughs said. "When you bring in new coaching staff, everyone has a new look on life. He has guys taking care of their business in between games - taking ownership in what they are doing. He has developed a tremendous connection with these guys. He is a big key to our success."

Barton said the players are not afraid to throw strikes, thus, leading to good pitching outings.

"The biggest thing for us is we have guys that fill up the strike zone," Barton said. "They throw a lot of strikes with multiple pitches. I feel like we have a competitive group of guys that go out there and compete every time they are out on the mound."

Burroughs likes that his team throws consistently good pitches and has great mental toughness.

"Our number one key to success is that guys can command their fastball,' Burroughs said. "Also, these guys have a level of toughness and maturity. They take care of business in between starts. Our catchers have also played well and they get overlooked quite a bit."

Coaches are supposed to be confident that what they are teaching will translate to success, but Tech's pitching has even Barton somewhat surprised.

"I think if you would have told me before the year started that our numbers would be what they are, I would have said you are crazy," Barton said. "Our success is quite a pleasant surprise."

Burroughs knew Tech's bullpen would be solid early on, but the success of their young, starting pitchers has him also pleasantly surprised.

"We thought our bullpen was going to be the strongest part of our team," Burroughs said. "It takes playing real games to know who we are, and after about a month we realized that not only is our bullpen pretty good, but our starters as well."

Barton makes sure that no matter how many runs Tech has on the board, his staff stays honed in on good, consistent pitching.

"I don't think is really matters what our offense is doing, I want them to have the same approach," Barton said. "Whether up ten runs, or down ten runs, it does not matter. That simplifies things for them and makes it easier. That way they do not have to take into account what the score is, what the weather is like or what stadium we are playing in."

Burroughs said even in losses that this pitching staff has kept them in it until in the end.

"Pitching travels, good pitching is going to neutralize good hitting," Burroughs added. "And that is any day of the week. You just are not always going to be there offensively. Look at some these games we've lost - we could have won most of them because our pitching kept us in the game."

Barton's teaching goes much deeper than coaching and instructing. His innate ability to build trust and further strong character attributes in his players cannot be overlooked.

Burroughs said Barton's arrival was a match made in heaven as his presence has been refreshing to the players.

"Sometimes you get that perfect storm,' Burroughs said. "All of the stars align. It has been one of those deals where some of these guys have been under their third pitching coach in three years. Coach Barton lets those guys do their own thing - there lies the trust that guys appreciate."

Trust will remain key for the Bulldogs, as they look to conclude a strong regular season, and turn it into something special come postseason.