RUSTON – The Diamond 'Dogs (19-16, 7-6 CUSA) extended out to a four-game winning streak Friday night after downing Middle Tennessee (17-17, 5-8 CUSA), 8-1, in the series opener at the Love Shack.
 
The Blue Raiders opened up the scoring in the second, taking a 1-0 lead. A leadoff single and a passed ball put a runner on second with no outs before a flyout to center and a chopped grounder to third brought in the first run of the day for either side.
 
MTSU drew a one-out walk in the fourth and ended up with a runner on third following a balk and a wild pitch. The runner appeared to take a chance running home on a ball hit back to the pitcher, but was put out on a 1-2-5 being chased back to third.
 
Tech managed a hit through each of the first three frames including a pair of singles to lead off the third by Cade Patterson and Brecken Menuet, yet were unable to get their first run across until the bottom of the fifth.
 
Patterson drove a one-out double to the right-center gap before a grounder off the bat of Colby Lunsford brought him around to tie the game at 1-1. A misplayed ball by the MTSU right fielder allowed Lunsford to advance to second before coming around to score on an error by the Blue Raider first baseman.
 
A grounder was hit to the right side by Trey Hawsey and was bobbled by the MTSU first baseman. A soft toss to the pitcher at first was not in time, allowing Hawsey to reach safely all while Lunsford was simultaneously rounding the bases. The Bulldog third baseman came home sliding past a missed tag to give the 'Dogs a 2-1 lead.
 
Two more runs were added in the Bulldogs' favor in the sixth on a two-run homer by Wesley Scott. It was Scott's third homer of the season and first since March 15 in the series finale against Delaware at the Love Shack.
 
LA Tech continued to put together at-bats in the sixth by loading the bases on a walk, bunt single, fielder's choice and an error. Lunsford then drove in a run for the second-straight inning with a two-run knock to the left-center gap, giving the Bulldogs a 6-1 lead before a single, walk and a wild pitch made it a six-run gap.
 
Both of Lunsford's RBI base hits in the previous two innings came with two strikes.
 
It is the first time the 'Dogs had five runs in an inning since a five-run third in the series opener at New Mexico State on March 20.
 
Casey McCoy gave the 'Dogs their eighth run of the contest with a solo shot over the right-center wall for his third homer of the season and first since the series opener against Southern Miss on February 27.
 
Declan Dahl tossed seven full frames allowing just one unearned run while scattering four hits and a walk. He punched out eight batters for the second consecutive start and it was the fourth time to do so as a Bulldog. Thomas Allen tossed two shutout innings to close out Friday's contest, punching out three while giving up a hit in the eighth and ninth innings.
 
The Bulldogs only punched out four times in the series opener, marking the seventh time to punch out four times or less this season. The 11 strikeouts from Tech's pitching staff marks the third time in the last four games to record double-digit strikeouts, and have done so 17 times total this year. It was also the 11th time with at least 11 punchouts for the Bulldog pitchers.
 
The Bulldogs also have back-to-back games with double-digit hits after posting 12 against MTSU. It is the most for Tech since knocking 13 hits in the series finale at New Mexico State on March 22.
 
Game 2 of the series is set for Saturday, April 11 at the Love Shack with first pitch set for 2 p.m. CT.
 
Quotables
 
Head Coach Lane Burroughs:
"It was a huge win for us. It's been quite some time since we've won at home on a Friday night. I challenged our hitters tonight to get Declan Dahl a win. He's had some tough luck and has deserved a better fate, but when he pitches, he's going against a really good arm on the other side. I was extremely proud of him tonight. He pitched out of traffic a couple times, and ended up having to sit for some time—for about 25 minutes—during the bottom of the sixth. We batted around and they had a couple of pitching changes, but he goes out there and gets two huge punchouts with runners on first and second to end his night. Couldn't be prouder of him. He pitched his tail off, and that's what he's been doing all year. Proud of Thomas Allen—he pitched unbelievable tonight and he's been good for us all year. I'm also very proud of our hitters. We challenged them to make an adjustment in the fifth, and we hit three balls really hard that inning, and I think that set the tone. I thought Hawsey's grounder—he had a hard 90 feet, he's not loafing to first. He runs hard and beats it; Lunsford was wheeled home by Jake Wells. He had a great slide—both plays of Hawsey at first and Lunsford scoring were reviewed, and I think that's when the game turned. Wesley Scott got into one—the kid works his tail off every day and it's good to see him hit a homer from the right side. Casey McCoy hasn't been in the lineup in a couple days, but he hits lefties good and we decided to put him in the lineup. His first two at-bats were not that good, but when it mattered he drove the ball out of the yard late in the game. We're playing good baseball right now, and are in a good headspace. I like our dugout and the vibe; the guys are playing loose. When your team is playing loose, having fun and playing good baseball you just get out of their way."
 
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