Box Score

RUSTON, La. - The Louisiana Tech baseball team fell to Middle Tennessee by a 7-6 final Sunday afternoon from J.C. Love Field in front of 1,312.

LA Tech (32-17, 16-8 C-USA) saw continued success from the middle of the order, as Parker Bates (3-for-4, 2 runs, 1 RBI), Steele Netterville (2-for-4, 2 RBI, 1 run) and Tanner Huddleston (2-for-5, 1 run) combined for seven of Tech's 11 hits on the day.

However, the Middle Tennessee (24-23-1, 14-13-1 C-USA) bats remained hot, striking for seven runs on 11 hits. Blake Benefield hit his third home run of the weekend and plated a pair, while catcher Aaron Antonini led the way going 3-for-4 with a game-high three RBI.

Tech starter David Leal made it through 4.1 innings allowing five runs on eight hits. The left-hander was uncharacteristically working from behind in counts throughout the day, and walked two while striking out four.

The Blue Raider starter in Zach Keenan also did not factor into the decision, pitching four innings while allowing four runs (three earned) on six hits.

The Bulldogs jumped out to an early 4-0 lead in the contest after plating two in both the second and third innings. Mason Robinson reached on an infield single, scoring Bates and Tanner Huddleston came home to score after swiping third and coming home on an errant throw from the catcher Anotonini in the second. In the third, Steele Netterville launched his second home run of the weekend, and fourth in 2018, deep into left field, scoring Bates, and putting Tech out in front 4-0.

However, in the top of the fourth, the Blue Raider offense got to Leal, striking for four runs on six hits and tying the game.

Middle Tennessee would take a 5-4 lead in the top of the fifth after an RBI double down the left field line from Aaron Aucker, ending Leal's day.

Graham Ahlrich entered in relief of the lefthander, and induced a popout and a flyout, wiggling out of a first-and third jam, keeping Tech within a run.

The Tech bats tied the game in the bottom half after a sac fly to left from Bates brought home Skelton, who led off the frame being hit by a pitch from the new reliever Tyler Holcombe.

Then in the sixth, Ahlrich gave Tech the shutdown inning it needed most, stranding a man at third, and giving the Bulldog offense a chance to take another lead.

Which is exactly what occurred in the bottom half, as Dalton Skelton flew out to center, deep enough to score Taylor Young from third, putting Tech ahead 7-6.

But in the top of the seventh, Middle Tennessee placed runners at second and third with one out off Tech reliever Braxton Smith. Kyle Griffen entered in the jam, and battled Middle Tennessee third baseman Kevin Sullivan, but ended up walking the six-hole hitter on 11 pitches. With the bases loaded, Griffen got Drew Huff to ground into a FC back to the mound, as Griffen underhanded the ground ball to Clayton for the force at home and a big out number two. However, the ensuing batter in Antonini lined a two-out single back up the middle, bringing home both Aucker and Sullivan, and giving the Blue Raiders a 7-6 lead.

Kent Hasler entered in relief of Griffen, and got a big swinging strikeout of Woodard, ending the threat. Hasler worked the final two innings of excellent relief, striking out three and not allowing a baserunner. The Tech offense could not capitalize on a Blue Raider error in the eighth, and stranded Bates in the ninth after a one-out single from the Tech centerfielder.

Drew Huff (2-1) earned the win in relief, going 2.1 innings while allowing a hit. Austin Dennis claimed the two-inning save, allowing a pair of hits and striking out Robinson with the tying run at second, ending the game.

Tech returns to midweek action on Wednesday, heading to Grambling for a 6 p.m. contest on Wednesday evening.