RUSTON – The Diamond 'Dogs (11-8, 1-0 CUSA) downed Delaware (8-10, 0-1 CUSA) in their inaugural matchup Friday night at the Love Shack, shutting out the Blue Hens by a score of 5-0.
 
The Bulldogs' saw their first shutout win to open conference play since March 21, 1987 with a 15-run seven-inning win to open Southland play against Arkansas State. It also marks the fifth-straight season Tech opened league play with a victory.
 
The 'Dogs jumped on the scoreboard first in the opening frame with a solo homer from Colby Lunsford for his fifth of the season and first since hitting two on February 18 against McNeese. Later on in the fourth, the 'Dogs loaded the bases with two outs on a double, walk and a hit-by-pitch.
 
Two more walks allowed two runs to come across, extending Tech's lead to three runs going into the fifth.
 
The lead increased to 4-0 in the seventh on a massive solo shot by Trey Hawsey, traveling 400 feet for the sophomore's team-leading sixth round-tripper of the season.
 
The 'Dogs continued to apply pressure in the frame, putting two runners on with a pair of walks followed by both advancing to second and third with one out on a sacrifice bunt. A wild pitch from the Delaware pitcher allowed a run to come across, giving Tech a five-run cushion going into the last two frames of the contest.
 
Declan Dahl saw a phenomenal start on the mound Friday night, tossing six scoreless innings allowing just two hits, two walks and striking out eight batters. It was his longest outing as a Bulldog, and the second-most strikeouts in a game for the Azle, Texas native this season. Thomas Allen threw two scoreless innings to complete the shutout, allowing just one hit and picking up a strikeout. 
 
Seven different Bulldogs were responsible for Tech's seven hits in the win, as well as four different hitters driving in an RBI. All nine players in the starting lineup for Tech reached base safely at least once. 
 
Game 2 of the series is set for Saturday, March 14 at 2 p.m. CT at the Love Shack. Live stream will be available on ESPN+, and radio will be broadcasted on 97.7 FM, the LA Tech Athletics app and the Varsity Network app.
 
Quotables
 
Head Coach Lane Burroughs
"I'm very proud of our team. Declan Dahl—what can you say? He won the ball game for us. He had a rough outing last Friday, and I felt like that was an anomaly. He's ultra-competitive and prideful—he's a Friday guy because of what he did tonight. It was good to get him back out there tonight. Coach Fouts told him before the game he was going to pitch the best game of his life. I don't know if that's the best game he's ever pitched, but he was absolutely dominant and electric against a good team. I couldn't be prouder of him and Thomas Allen coming in and getting the last six outs. It's been a good recipe for us—Declan takes us deep into the game, and you use one of our relief guys and we went with Allen. They looked like they were having trouble handling right-handed velocity. I'm very proud of our guys. Offense didn't put up a lot of runs, but I thought our at-bats were incredible. We only punched out four times, drew seven walks—we were able to load the bases with two outs and nobody on in the fourth. Eli Berch hits a double, then we go HBP and a walk, and end up scoring a couple runs. That's what we talk about—walks and HBPs lead to runs. I thought our guys did a great job of that tonight. We took some great pitches and took their walks and HBPs, and got some big hits when we needed them. Colby Lunsford got us going with the homer and Hawsey with a mammoth shot—we need to see more of that and I know Trey wants more of it."
 
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