RUSTON, La. – The Louisiana Tech baseball team capitalized on four-run fourth inning, and claimed a 9-4 triumph over the Arkansas State Red Wolves on Friday evening in front of 1,185 from J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
 
LA Tech (7-2) trailed early 2-0, but rallied back to score two in the bottom of the first, one in the third, and then four in the third to stake a commanding lead over the visiting Red Wolves (7-3).
 
"We put all our chips out there tonight," head coach Lane Burroughs remarked. "You can't sweep unless you win on Friday. We went with Matt (Miller) late and he was electric for us. One thing about him is that if we need him tomorrow, he'll grab the ball – that's just the kind of guy he is. Also, Chris Clayton – what else can you say about that young man? He had that big hit on the hit and run in the second and then he comes up with a big two-out bases clearing double. That's what your captain does. I'm very proud of him and the way he competes. He's tough and just comes through for us time and time again."
 
Arkansas State got to Tech starter Tyler Follis early in the contest, loading the bases with nobody out. The right-hander proceeded to get two quick outs, but then gave up a double to Sky-Lar Culver, which plated two for the first runs of the game.
 
Trailing now 2-0, the Bulldogs wasted no time in getting those runs back after an RBI infield single from Mason Mallard and an RBI single from Steele Netterville to draw the 'Dogs back to even.
 
Follis worked a painless second, retiring the side in order, and then Chris Clayton laced an RBI double to right field, scoring Mason Robinson, who had reached via a one-out walk.
 
Now with the lead, Follis navigated around a one-out bases loaded jam, and got a foul out and a ground out to preserve the one-run Tech lead.
 
In the bottom of the third, Tech quickly saw the first two batters reach after Mallard led things off with a walk and Netterville reached on an error. With runners at the corners, center fielder Parker Bates smoked a line drive up the middle, ricocheting off the pitcher, allowing Mallard to score on the infield hit. With a 4-2 lead, and the bases loaded after a Mason Robinson HBP, senior captain Chris Clayton came up with the biggest hit of the day – a bases-clearing double down the right field line, inflating the Tech lead to five at 7-2.
 
Follis would last one more inning before giving way to freshman reliever Beau Billings. The right-hander struck out the side in top of the fifth, but then allowed a pair to score in the sixth after an RBI single from Jaylon Deshazier and an RBI double from Tyler Duncan. Kyle Griffen would enter in relief of Billings, and got a strikeout of Eli Davis, halting the damage, keeping the Tech lead of now 7-4.
 
Griffen then tossed a scoreless seventh before Steele Netterville launched a two-run blast just over the wall in right, scoring Mallard and extending the Tech lead back out to five at 9-4.
 
With the five-run cushion, the Bulldogs went to senior captain Matt Miller (1-0) out of the pen. The right-hander was nothing short of electric in picking up his first win of 2019, as he retired the side in order in both the eighth and the ninth, while striking out a pair.
 
Arkansas State starter Zack Jackson was tagged with the loss, going just two innings, while allowing six runs (four earned) on five hits. The right-hander struck out two and walked two of his 14 batters faced.
 
Tech starter Follis did not factor into the decision as the right-hander went four innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out three and walking three.
 
Mason Robinson paced the 'Dogs with a 2-for-2 effort at the dish, while walking once and scoring a pair of runs. Netterville finished the evening 2-for-4 with three RBI, while Clayton led the way with four RBI on a pair of base hits.
 
The Bulldogs and Red Wolves will conclude the weekend series with a doubleheader scheduled to begin Saturday at 1 p.m.