Preview: LA Tech at Middle Tennessee

RUSTON – Louisiana Tech resumes its Conference USA slate by traveling to Murfreesboro, Tenn., to face Middle Tennessee in a three-game conference series.

SERIES INFORMATION
Dates/Times: Friday, April 28 (6 p.m.) | Saturday, April 29 (3 p.m.) | Sunday, April 30 (1 p.m.)
Location: Reese Smith Jr. Field (Murfreesboro, Tenn.)
TV/Stream: ESPN+
Stats: LATechSports.com/Stats
Radio: Sportstalk 97.7 FM | LA Tech Athletics app

ABOUT LOUISIANA TECH (20-22, 9-9 C-USA)
LA Tech is coming off a 6-5 midweek loss to Southern Miss on April 26. Catcher Jorge Corona led Tech offensively with a 2-3 effort at the plate while also driving in a run and drawing a walk. Corona's two hits marked his 11th multi-hit game of the season. Ethan Bates hit his eighth home run of the season with a three-run shot to right field in the eighth inning.

Logan McLeod leads Tech with a .289 batting average while starting all 42 games this season, joining Dalton Davis as the only players on the Tech squad to accomplish the feat. Davis is tied for fourth among all C-USA players with six doubles in league play. Phillip Matulia leads Tech with 13 home runs on the season.

The projected Friday starter for Tech will be Jonathan Fincher, who is 6-3 this season with a 1.20 WHIP and a team-leading 62 strikeouts in 62.1 innings of work. Opposing hitters are batting .250 against Fincher in conference play which is the ninth-lowest average among all C-USA pitchers. Greg Martinez will make the start on Saturday, while Sunday's starter has yet to be determined.

Landon Tomkins has been effective out of the bullpen this season. The Brandon, Miss., product leads the Bulldogs with a 3.02 ERA and three saves in 44.2 innings pitched.

ABOUT MIDDLE TENNESSEE (21-19, 10-8 C-USA)
Middle Tennessee is 21-19 on the season, posting a 10-8 mark in conference play. The Blue Raiders won their last conference series against Rice with a 6-0 win in the series opener and an 11-inning 5-4 walk-off win in the series finale. They are coming off an 8-4 win at Belmont on April 25.

The Blue Raiders at 14-9 at home and rank among the leaders C-USA in several statistical categories– including shutouts (3rd, 3), batting average (3rd, .291), hits (4th, 411), stolen bases (2nd, 83), and sacrifice flies (3rd, 20).

Four everyday players are hitting over .300, led by Brett Coker, who is batting .356 with a team-high 57 hits, including eight doubles, four home runs as well as 26 RBIs, and 77 total bases. Pitching-wise, Middle Tennessee is scheduled to start Patrick Johnson and Jaden Hamm, while the game three starter is yet to be determined. Johnson has an ERA of 3.21 with a 12-4 record.

THE SERIES
LA Tech leads the all-time series over Middle Tennessee, 17-14. Middle Tennessee won the last series between the teams back on April 22-24 of 2022 in Ruston. The Bulldogs took game two, 4-2, but the Blue Raiders won the series opener (7-3) and finale (6-3, 12 inn.).

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Players Mentioned

#11 Jorge Corona: C/OF; 6' 2"; Junior; R/R

#47 Jonathan Fincher: LHP; 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior; L/L

#36 Greg Martinez: RHP; 6' 3"; Junior; R/R

#10 Logan McLeod: INF; 5' 10"; Junior; R/R

#38 Landon Tomkins: RHP; 6' 3"; Senior; R/R

#24 Dalton Davis: INF; 6' 0"; Junior; R/R

#16 Ethan Bates: INF/P; 5' 11"; Junior; L/R

Players Mentioned

#11 Jorge Corona
: 6' 2"; Junior; R/R
: C/OF

#47 Jonathan Fincher
: 6' 3"; Redshirt Senior; L/L
: LHP

#36 Greg Martinez
: 6' 3"; Junior; R/R
: RHP

#10 Logan McLeod
: 5' 10"; Junior; R/R
: INF

#38 Landon Tomkins
: 6' 3"; Senior; R/R
: RHP

#24 Dalton Davis
: 6' 0"; Junior; R/R
: INF

#16 Ethan Bates
: 5' 11"; Junior; L/R
: INF/P