SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Louisiana Tech defeated UTSA 5-4 Saturday afternoon as the Bulldogs plated two runs in the top of the ninth inning from a Philip Matulia home run.
 
LA Tech (14-5, 2-0 C-USA) jumped out early taking a 1-0 lead on a sac-fly from Bryce Wallace. UTSA (11-7, 0-2 C-USA) answered back in the bottom of the second with an RBI hit-by-pitch. Ian Bailey launched a two-run home run in the third inning to give the Roadrunners a 3-1 lead. UTSA held onto the lead until Philip Matulia blasted a two-run homer to regain the advantage and make it seven straight wins.
 
Matulia and Cole McConnell both recorded two hits while Matulia accounted for two RBI. For the second straight day the Bulldogs were out hit by two and managed to come out victorious.
 
Ryan Jennings made his fifth start on the mound going 2.1 innings and allowing three runs. Jennings' day was done after a two-run homer from Ian Bailey and a walk of Ryan Flores.
 
Ryan Harland was efficient posting 4.1 innings in relief. Harland struck out three batters and did not allow a walk or an earned run. LA Tech turned to Harland in the third as he left the bases loaded, sneaking out of the jam.
 
In the top of the ninth Jorge Corona was hit-by-pitch with one out allowing Matulia to step up and send a pitch over the right field wall. The two-run home run was Matulia's team-leading fifth of the year.
 
Landon Tomkins and Kyle Crigger combined for the final two innings. Tomkins and Crigger both did not allow a run as Crigger earned his third save of the year.
 
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Lane Burroughs
 
"Phil (Matulia) made a great play in the ninth and got the big hit. I wasn't particularly pleased with the way we played today. We left the bases loaded in the fifth and sixth. Both times we loaded them up with one out and only got one run out of it. Winners find a way to win."
 
"Ryan Harland has to be player of the game. Second day in a row we don't have a great start. I was concerned, but Ryan Harland came in and absolutely stuck it on them. They are a really good hitting team and he gave us a chance to win and kept us in the game."
 
UP NEXT
The Bulldogs look the complete the series sweep of the Roadrunners tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. at Roadrunner Field.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
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