TUSCON, Ariz. – Louisiana Tech was one inning away from evening up the series, but Arizona plated six runs in the ninth to win, 6-5, on Saturday night at Hi Corbett Field.
For the first eight innings, LA Tech (26-11) was in complete control. After registering a season-low three hits the night before, they had 14 total base knocks with five players having multi-hit games.
Three of those hits came in the first inning alone as
Dalton Davis and
Cole McConnell posted back-to-back doubles for the first run, followed shortly thereafter by an RBI single from
Jorge Corona up the middle to make it an early 2-0 lead for the visitors.
The Bulldogs would gradually add to their lead as the game went on.
Will Safford delivered with a sacrifice fly in the fourth to make it 3-0. Later in the eighth inning, McConnell's hot shot to first resulted in an RBI groundout. Then LA Tech tacked on one more in the ninth with
Grant Comeaux, who went 3-for-4, recording a single up the middle, making it 5-0.
Meanwhile on the mound, starter
Luke Nichols was stellar, throwing a season-high 6.1 innings of shutout baseball while allowing just four hits. Reliever
Sam Brodersen came on in relief, keeping the shutout going against Arizona (20-13) through the seventh and eighth inning.
He came back out to finish the game in the ninth, but after walking the first two batters closer
Ethan Bates (1-1) was called on from right field to get three outs. Three straight singles by Arizona quickly sliced LA Tech's deficit down to 5-2.
The first out was finally recorded with an infield fly to third, but the Wildcats singled again which scored two to make it 5-4. Bates was able to induce a flyout to right field for the second out. However, Arizona tied the game up with a ground-rule double and then completed the comeback with a single through the left side to overcome the five-run deficit in the final inning.
UP NEXT
LA Tech and Arizona will play the final game of the non-conference weekend series on Sunday. First pitch is set for Noon CT and will be streamed live on Pac-12 Plus.
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