NORFOLK, Va. – Louisiana Tech tops Old Dominion 10-5 Saturday afternoon at Bud Metheny Ballpark
LA Tech (29-15, 13-7 C-USA) takes game two and evens the series with Old Dominion (29-11, 11-9 C-USA) as the Bulldogs use a big six-run eighth inning and three, three-hit days for
Jorge Corona,
Taylor Young and
Thaxton Berch.
The Bulldogs struck first right out of the gates in the first inning. With two on,
Steele Netterville doubled down the left field bringing home the first two runs. Two batters later Corona hopped on a pitch singling up the middle as Netterville came home making it a 3-0 lead.
LA Tech scored one more in the third as the Monarchs tried turning a double playing, but a throwing error brought home
Cole McConnell.
Ryan Jennings brought his best stuff today. The Bulldog right-hander held the Monarchs hitless up until the fourth inning. Jennings faced trouble in the bottom of the fifth when Old Dominion loaded the bases with one out. Brock Gagliardi jumped on a 3-2 pitch and launched a grand slam to even the score 4-4.
Ryan Harland came in relief retiring the second out of the sixth then allowing a solo homer to Kenny Levari as the Monarchs took their first lead of the day, 5-4.
In the top of the eighth,
Logan McLeod and Berch were able to reach base with one out.
Taylor Young came to the plate and drove a line shot all the way to the left field wall driving both runners home, taking the lead 6-5.
Philip Matulia walked and McConnell smoked a two-run double into the left center field gap. The Bulldog rally continued when Corona belted his ninth home run of the season capping off the six-run Bulldog eighth.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Monarchs scratched another run on an RBI single from Brock Gagliardi taking a 2-0 lead.
Kyle Crigger hurled the final two innings allowing three hits, no runs and four strikeouts to slam the door in a 10-5 victory.
NOTABLES
- Netterville ties the all-time doubles record at LA Tech in the first inning (58)
- Corona, Young and Berch with three hit days
- Corona 3-for-5 with ninth homer and three RBI
- Berch collected his first career double
- Young 3-for-4 with two runs scored and go-ahead double in the eighth
- McConnell 2-for-4 with two RBI, a walk and two runs scored
- Jennings held the Monarchs to no hits through three; scoreless through five
- Harland earns the win improving to 2-0
QUOTABLES
Head Coach Lane Burroughs
"The energy was unbelievable, I don't know if that is because I was in there for it, but they had me laughing some. Coach Fouts right out of the gate had some decisions to make at third and he made the right ones. Maybe we need to stay with that dynamic. It doesn't matter to me. We found a way to win."
"Berch had a big walk with the closer in. I wanted to give Hasler an at-bat because he has juice and it just didn't work out, but here comes Taylor with the big double. Steele had a big double in the first inning to get us on the board and Jorge obviously with the home run to put it away. The way those guys hit, I have never had so much anxiety with a five-run lead in the ninth. Crigger wasn't sharp, it was obvious. His velocity was good, but I don't think he hit a single spot on his fastballs."
"I just couldn't be more proud of these guys today with the energy they showed. The only game that matters is the one coming up tomorrow. You have to look at the small picture and that is what we are going to do tomorrow."
UP NEXT
LA Tech and Old Dominion will meet Sunday at 11 a.m. CT for the rubber match.
SOCIAL MEDIA
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