NORFOLK, Va. – Louisiana Tech falls to Old Dominion 5-0 Friday night in game one of the three-game conference series at Bud Metheny Ballpark.
 
LA Tech (28-15, 12-7 C-USA) is shutout in game one Friday night against Old Dominion (29-10, 11-8 C-USA) as the Monarch left-hander Blake Morgan tosses seven scoreless.
 
The Monarchs hopped on the board in the bottom of the first as Carter Trice blasted his 16^th long ball of the year giving ODU a 1-0 lead.
 
Bulldog starter Cade Gibson worked a scoreless second and third inning retiring eight consecutive batters in that span.
 
After the first six LA Tech hitters were sat down, Logan McLeod ripped a leadoff single into center field in the third. McLeod managed to steal second but was left stranded.
 
In the bottom of the fourth, the Monarchs scratched another run on an RBI single from Brock Gagliardi taking a 2-0 lead.
 
Andy Garriola launched a two-run homer in the sixth extending the Monarch lead 4-0.
 
ODU starter Blake Morgan was outstanding in this one lasting seven scoreless innings, allowing no walks, three hits and striking out eight. The left-hander held the lowest ERA in the nation coming into tonight's contest and now posts a 0.59 ERA.
 
Steele Netterville led off the seventh with his second single of the evening. Netterville was able to take second on a wild pitch and was stranded as Morgan forced a pop up and two fly outs.
 
The Bulldogs threatened in the top of the eighth when McLeod and Walker Burchfield reached base to lead off the inning. Jason Hartline went on to strike out the next three Bulldogs to escape the jam.
 
Gibson suffered his second loss of the season although giving seven strong innings. The left-hander was tagged for four earned runs, three of those coming on two home runs.
 
ODU scored one more in the eighth on a bases loaded walk.
 
NOTABLES

• McLeod and Netterville each with two hits, combing for four of the five hits.
• Second time the Bulldogs have been shutout this season
• Gibson retired eight straight batters between the first and third inning.
• Thaxton Berch made his first start at second base

 
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Lane Burroughs
"Credit Morgan, he hasn't given up a run in the last four weeks. We had some opportunities, and we couldn't get it done. He had no walks. He didn't give us much above the knees all night. We were sitting change up because we knew that's what he was going to throw. He is deadly versus right-handed hitters because of that pitch and that's why we played Brantley tonight. I thought Brantley had some good swings tonight. He hit one that went out of the park but foul. Morgan was good tonight, keeping us off balance."
 
"I thought Gibson threw outstanding. I am very proud of him. He faced a very good hitting team, just about leading the nation in homers. I told him in front of the whole team, I couldn't be more proud of the way he competed. He ultimately gave us a chance to win."
 
UP NEXT
LA Tech is back in action at Old Dominion for game two of the series at 2 p.m. CT Saturday afternoon.
 
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