RUSTON, La. - Ethan Bates's late-game heroics lift Louisiana Tech over Western Kentucky on Friday night. Louisiana Tech (36-15, 13-6 CUSA) picked a 9-7 victory over WKU (32-17, 13-6 CUSA) in front of a crowd of 1932 at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park. 

In the first inning, both teams combined for four runs, as WKU's Blake Cavill put two runs on the scoreboard for the Hilltoppers after launching a ball over the right field wall. Next, Dalton Davis answered back with a solo home run over the batter's eye in center field. Davis hit his fifth home run in the last three games. Michael Ballard tied the game at two apiece following an RBI groundout that sent Cole McConnell to score. 

Later in the second inning, the Hilltoppers took a three-run after a Caleb Marmo home run to right field. After two scoreless from Tech pitcher Reed Smith and WKU's Jack Bennett, the Hilltoppers earned another run in the top of the fifth inning, following a Blake Cavill sacrifice fly RBI, extending WKU's lead to 6-2. Will Safford answered with a solo homer near the right-field foul pole, cutting the game to 6-3. Once again, the Hilltoppers responded with another sacrifice flyout RBI to put them up 7-3 in the top of the sixth inning. Then the Bulldogs responded with a two-run home run for Michael Ballard, making it a 7-5 game in the bottom of the sixth inning. While on the mound for the Bulldogs, Ryan Harland delivered three strikeouts with one hit and one walk in just 3.1 innings of relief. In the ninth inning, Sam Brodersen (5-1) entered the mound, striking out two batters and walking one batter to earn his fifth win this season. Eventually, Tech rallied in the bottom of the ninth inning, following an RBI single from Cole McConnell that scored Davis, which led to an Ethan Bates walk-off three-run homer to secure Tech the victory. 

QUOTABLES 
Head Coach Lane Burroughs
"I am extremely proud of our guys tonight. Ryan Harland was outstanding. Ethan Bates and him are players of the game. We do not win the game without Ryan Harland coming in and quieting the storm. They dominated us, and they also have a great team, but I thought we played tight early in the game. I thought Reed Smith was tight with the ball coming out of his hand, and he made two mistakes, which WKU jumped on. There are no adjectives to describe Ethan Bates. I don't know where we would be with Ethan Bates." 

UP NEXT 
Louisiana Tech will look to take the series against WKU on Saturday afternoon in the Love Shack. The first pitch for Saturday's game is set for 2 PM and to be televised on ESPN+. 

TICKET INFO. 
During the 2024 season, a limited number of single-game reserved chairback tickets may be available on a game-by-game basis. Any opportunities for unclaimed single-game tickets will go on sale, if available, no earlier than 24 hours before the scheduled first pitch.Single-game standing-room only and right-field berm tickets are also available on a game-by-game basis for $15. To purchase, fans can stop by the LA Tech Baseball Box Office at J.C. Love Field, open two hours before the first pitch, or visit LATechSports.com/Tickets.

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