SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Louisiana Tech erased a four-run deficit and defeated UTSA 6-5 Friday night at Roadrunner Field.
 
LA Tech (13-5, 1-0) found themselves down 5-1 early after a four-run UTSA (11-6, 0-1) first inning.
 
The Bulldogs jumped out early as Taylor Young came around to score on a fielder's choice. UTSA answered back with a four-spot in the bottom half of the first. The first four batters recorded base hits. Shane Sirdashney ripped a two-run single to take a 3-1 lead and Isaiah Walker collected an RBI on a fielder's choice.
 
Philip Matulia was 2-for-5 on the night with one of the biggest hits to get the scoring going. Matulia smoked a two-out RBI double down the left field line in the fifth inning. Walker Burchfield followed up with a two-run single to cut the deficit to 5-4.
 
In the top of the sixth Taylor Young blasted a solo home run to right center to knot things back up 5-5. This was Young's fourth long ball of the season.
 
With one out in the top of the eighth Bryce Wallace came around to score and take the lead on a wild pitch.
 
Anthony Giannette, Cade Gibson and Kyle Crigger were impressive coming in relief on starter Jonathan Fincher. These three combined for the final seven innings allowing no runs on seven strikeouts and on one walk.
 
Gibson earned his second win and Crigger collected save number two in the victory.
 
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Lane Burroughs
 
"I had already made my mind up, if we don't win the game, I couldn't have been more proud of our team. The first inning was a disaster. We didn't get a good start on the mound. I told Fincher when he came off the mound, next week you are going to have to bring it. He was missing across the middle of the plate and they are a good hitting team. They don't strikeout a lot. I couldn't be more proud of (Anthony) Giannatte. He came in and gave us two innings when we needed it the most."
 
"We started chipping away. That fifth inning when we scored three, all of that happened with two strikes, two outs and nobody on. Steele (Netterville) gets a single, (Jorge) Corona gets a single and the (Philip) Matulia hits a double and then (Walker) Burchfield a two-run single. Again, I am so proud of our team for never quitting and continuing to fight. We went all in with Cade (Gibson). We didn't have the lead when he went in. Crigger was really good at the end of the game."
 
 UP NEXT
LA Tech looks to clinch the first conference series tomorrow at 2 p.m. at Roadrunner Field.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest updates on LA Tech Baseball follow them on Twitter (@LATechBSB), Instagram (@LATechBSB) and Facebook (LATechBSB).