MURFREESBORO, Tenn. – The Louisiana Tech baseball team was held to just one run on seven hits in a 4-1 defeat to Middle Tennessee on Saturday afternoon from Reese Smith Jr. Field.
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The Bulldogs (13-9, 1-4 C-USA) were unable to get anything going against Middle Tennessee (8-14, 3-2 C-USA) starter Peyton Wigginton (2-1), who threw a complete game. The left-hander scattered seven Bulldogs hits, while allowing just one run. Wigginton struck out nine and walked one in his second nine-inning start of the year.
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Tech starter
Logan Robbins (2-2) was charged with the loss, but pitched well for the Bulldogs. The left-hander hurled 5.2 innings, while allowing three runs (all earned) on seven hits. Robbins also tied his career high with seven strikeouts, and walked two.
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The Blue Raiders plated the first run of the game in the second inning, before Tech got a sac fly from
Steele Netterville, scoring
Mason Mallard (who led off the fourth with a triple) to even the score at one.
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However, Middle Tennessee would take the lead right back in the fourth after a sac fly RBI to center from Darrell Freeman.
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Both pitchers made it through the fifth unscathed, before the Blue Raiders built a threat on Robbins in the bottom of the sixth.
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Robbins walked the leadoff man, Myles Christian before getting two outs, while Christian advanced to second. Now with two outs, Tech called on right-handed reliever
Tyler Follis to retire the nine-hole hitter in Buddy Fultz. However, the designated hitter, making his first appearance of the season, lined an RBI single back up the middle, extending the Blue Raiders lead to 3-1.
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Middle Tennessee would tack on its final run of the game in the bottom of the seventh, via a solo home run to right from catcher Aaron Antonini.
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Tech shortstop
Taylor Young finished the game 2-for-3, while
Mason Mallard (2-for-4, 1 R) added a pair of hits.
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Follis pitched 2.1 innings of relief, allowing one run on three hits, while striking out four. The right-hander did not walk a batter.
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The Bulldogs and Blue Raiders will conclude the weekend set tomorrow with the rubber game set for 1 p.m. from Reese Smith Jr. Field.
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