RUSTON – Cole McConnell and Jorge Corona combined for five hits and five RBIs as Louisiana Tech won its fifth straight, defeating I-20 foe ULM by a final score of 8-4 on Tuesday at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
 
All 12 of the runs scored in the game came in the first three innings.  For a fifth straight game (the winning streak), LA Tech (21-6) put up a crooked number in the first inning.  Back-to-back doubles by McConnell and Corona (hitting in the three-hole in place of the injured Dalton Davis), plus an RBI single up the middle by Adarius Myers, put the Bulldogs up 2-0.
 
They poured it on even more in the second frame with a six-spot.  After three consecutive hit-by-pitches, McConnell came through with a 2-RBI single.  Corona followed with an RBI single himself.  After another double, this one by Ethan Bates, and another HBP, Michael Ballard doubled to left center to plate two more to go up 8-0.
 
ULM (13-12) sliced that deficit in half in the third inning.  They used the long ball to do it, getting a solo homer by Hasani Johnson and a 3-run shot to right by Shawn Weatherbee, to make it an 8-4 game.
 
LA Tech squandered opportunities to plate more, leaving eight runners on base over the next six innings while holding a 4-run lead. 
 
However, the bullpen combination of Jacob Havern, Caden Copeland, Grant Hubka, and Sam Broderson were keeping the Warhawks at bay all the way up until the ninth inning.  That made way for the closer, Ethan Bates, to come on to shut down ULM, getting the last three outs via a groundout to second and two strikeouts.
 
The current CUSA Hitter of the Week McConnell stayed hot, going 3-for-5 with two runs and two RBIs.  Corona was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and three RBIs.  The third Bulldog with a multi-hit game was Myers who was 3-for-5 at the plate.
 
After starter, Connor Nation, was charged with four runs on 2.2 innings pitched, the five LA Tech relievers behind him combined to throw 6.1 innings of shutout baseball while allowing just two hits.  Havern (2-1) collected the win while ULM starter, Davis Oswalt (0-1), was charged with the loss.  
 
The Bulldogs have now won eight of their last nine games and improved to 16-4 at the Love Shack.
 
QUOTABLES
Head coach Lane Burroughs
 
"Wins are precious and hard to come by.  When you have a chance to get it, you go for it.  We were asking for one inning from all of our relievers.  We beat a good team.  We came out like we did this past weekend, scoring eight right out of the gates.  I thought we were swinging the bat really good.  I thought Jorge had a good day hitting in the three-spot in place of Dalton Davis.  That is five in a row, played good defense, very proud of our guys."
 
UP NEXT
LA Tech heads to Miami for a three-game conference series against FIU.  The first game is on Thursday, March 28 with first pitch set for 5:30 p.m. CT and will be broadcast on ESPN+. 
 
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