RUSTON – The Diamond 'Dogs (13-8, 3-0 CUSA) are off to a perfect start in conference play, routing Delaware (8-12, 0-3 CUSA) in an eight-inning run rule, 17-4, at the Love Shack on Sunday.
 
The Bulldogs scored 15 of their 17 runs across the final four frames played including six-spots in the fifth and eighth innings to fuel the mercy rule victory. It is just the second time the 'Dogs have opened CUSA play with a sweep in the Lane Burroughs era, and is just the third occurrence since 2003.
 
Tech outscored the Blue Hens 31-7 throughout the three-game series, with their 17 runs on Sunday marking the second-most runs in a single game among all CUSA members on the opening weekend of CUSA play.
 
The series finale was off to an early 10 a.m. CT start in Ruston, but Tech's offense remained awake as it had all weekend. Cade Patterson led the home side off drawing a walk with Colby Lunsford up to bat. The Bulldog third baseman hit a sharp groundout to the shortstop on a hit-and-run, and as the Delaware infielder was making his throw to first Patterson made a mad dash to third, giving the 'Dogs an early scoring opportunity.
 
Trey Hawsey cashed in, ripping a base hit up the middle on a 1-1 pitch for the first run of the day. Sebastian Mexico followed up with a double to the left-center gap to put two runners in scoring position with one out, before Colton Coates reached base and drove in a run on an error by the Blue Hen shortstop.
 
After a quiet, second, third and fourth innings, Delaware jumped out to a one-run lead with three runs in the fifth. A walk and a base hit gave the Hens two runners with one out before a double brought both runners in to tie. A stolen base put a runner 90 feet from home before a base hit to center gave Delaware the lead.
 
The Bulldogs showcased an offensive display in the home half, batting around and scoring six to take a lead that would not be relinquished for the rest of the day. Lunsford put himself in scoring position leading off with a base hit and advancing to second on a passed ball. Mexico recorded his second knock of the day with a base hit to center, scoring Lunsford to tie the game.
 
Colton Coates continued the hitting barrage with a hit to right on the first pitch of his at-bat. With two outs in the inning, Wesley Scott belted a three-run homer over the left field wall to break the tie and put the 'Dogs back out in front.
 
Tech continued adding two-out traffic with Zeb Ruddell reaching on a fielding error by the first baseman and advancing to second on a wild pitch. Casey McCoy was hit by a pitch the next at-bat to bring up the ninth batter of the inning in Cade Patterson. On an 0-1 count, the Bulldog right fielder poked a two-run double to the left field corner to cap off the six-run frame and send the Bulldogs to the sixth with an 8-3 lead.
 
Hawsey increased the lead to six with a solo homer to lead off the sixth, but a two-out RBI single in the top of the seventh cut it back to five. Two runs were added to Tech's lead in the bottom half, beginning with a leadoff single and a stolen base by Wesley Scott, giving the 'Dogs a runner in scoring position with one out. Three-straight walks followed to bring the lead back up to six, and Trey Hawsey making it an 11-4 score with an RBI groundout.
 
The Bulldogs loaded the bases to start off the eighth thanks to a leadoff single from Coates and walks drawn by Matt Houston and Scott. A groundout scored a run before two more walks were drawn to bring Tech to within one run of earning the mercy rule victory. Lunsford finished off the series in walk-off fashion for the 'Dogs, belting a no-doubter grand slam deep to left field.
 
Tech's consecutive games with 14 hits is the second time this season to post double-digit hits in back-to-back games, and the first time with at least 14 hits in consecutive games since Games 1 and 2 of the DBU series during the 2025 season.
 
Six of the seven Bulldogs to pick up a hit on Sunday recorded at least two hits, led by a three-hit performance by Mexico including two doubles. All nine batters reached base safely at least once in the win.
 
Quotables
 
Head Coach Lane Burroughs:
"Extremely proud of our guys to open up league play with a sweep against a good team. It's good to finally play well at home—we've struggled with that this year. I'm extremely proud of our offense. I thought the last two days we saw glimpses of what we could be. Back-to-back days with 14 hits—17 runs today and walked it off with the grand slam with the wind blowing in. Won the freebie war again, so back-to-back days I felt like we've done a great job of having quality at-bats. I thought our guys were very mature at the plate today. I didn't think Brooks had his best stuff today, but he's a competitor so he was able to navigate us into the fifth. I thought the bullpen came in and did a good job. Connor Nation limited the damage, and Blake Hooks looked good. Nate Crider came in and got the big punchout, and Landon Fontenot was good at the end of the ball game. I can't say enough about our offense and the preparation and work they've been putting in is finally paying off. I feel like it was clicking on all cylinders this weekend, and very proud to get the sweep."
 
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