KENNESAW, Ga. – The Diamond 'Dogs (23-17, 10-7 CUSA) saw their eight-game winning streak come to an end Saturday afternoon, falling to Kennesaw State (17-18, 7-10 CUSA), 6-5, at Mickey Dunn Stadium in Kennesaw.
 
Saturday's game was Louisiana Tech's second loss to the Owls, dropping to 4-2 against KSU. The contest saw seven lead changes and three tie scores.
 
The Owls struck first in the second inning after an error and a wild pitch led off the bottom half. An RBI single gave KSU a 1-0 lead before the 'Dogs left a pair stranded on three-straight flyouts to each of the Bulldog outfielders.
 
Matt Houston led off the third with his sixth homer of the season to tie the game. Five of Houston's six long balls have traveled over 400 feet. The Owls led off their half with a bunt single, stolen base and an error to get a runner on third with no outs. A subsequent groundout regained KSU's lead that would hold until the fifth.
 
Houston led off the fifth with a double ripped past the KSU third baseman and down the foul line, eventually scoring on a one-out two-run homer from Colby Lunsford. The Tech third baseman went back side to right field for his 10th homer of the season, tying Trey Hawsey for the most on the team.
 
The Owls matched with their own two-run homer in the home half with two outs, taking a 4-3 lead. Both sides were retired in order in the sixth before the 'Dogs would put up a crooked number in the seventh to take back the lead.
 
Tech loaded the bases to lead off the frame with singles from Hayden Gustavson and Lunsford before Hawsey drew a walk on a 3-2 count. Colton Coates drew to a 3-2 count the next at-bat and drove a ball deep enough to center to score Gustavson and tie the game at 4-4.
 
Following a pitching change, the Bulldogs put runners on first and third with two outs before a wild pitch allowed Lunsford to score and give Tech a 5-4 lead.
 
The Owls swiftly responded with a one-out solo homer to left, tying the game in the home half of the seventh. Matt Houston gave the 'Dogs a go-ahead runner in scoring position with a two-out double down the line for the second time, but a looking strikeout kept it at a tie ball game going into the bottom of the eighth.
 
KSU took the lead for the final time on Saturday, leading off the home side with a triple to center and a sacrifice fly and then retiring the 'Dogs with a groundout and a double play to even the series.
 
The Bulldogs entered the contest a perfect 21-0 when outhitting their opponents, and suffer their first loss after recording 10 hits to KSU's eight. Hawsey picked up his team-high seventh three-hit game of the year and his 29th career multi-hit game, tying Coates for the most among active 'Dogs.
 
The rubber match is set for Sunday, April 19 at Mickey Dunn Stadium in Kennesaw. First pitch is set for 12 p.m. CT/1 p.m. ET.
 
Quotables
 
Head Coach Lane Burroughs:
"In the eighth, we minimized the inning and only allowed the one run, and you're feeling good when the top of your lineup is due up to start the ninth. I thought their guys played hard, and we just didn't execute on a couple of pitches and they drove them out of the ballpark. We couldn't keep them in the yard on a couple of swings today, and credit to them. They put good swings on those pitches that we didn't execute. I thought the defense was sloppy early on. It really cost us. The two runs early on where we should've made the play came back to bite us, but that happens. I thought the guys got after it and played hard. I didn't feel there was any lack of competing and I felt good about it all day. We kept chipping away and coming back. One thing to point out, I think our bats have to get better. Especially with runners on. A guy like Matt Houston is putting together good at-bats with a homer and two doubles, but some guys are first-pitch swinging and hitting the pitcher's pitch, and we need to do a better job of extending at-bats in those situations."
 
SUPPORT LA TECH ATHLETICS
Championships require championship resources.  Fans can make a direct impact on the success of LA Tech Athletics through LTAC, Aillet Society, T-Club, and Young Alumni program as well as the Bulldog Community Outreach which is the NIL collective that supports Bulldog and Lady Techster student-athletes. Visit BuildTheLegacy.com today.  
 
BARK LOUDER
Our mission is to engage, develop, and advance the Louisiana Tech Athletics brand.  You can do that by spending time consuming our content and by investing your talents.  By barking louder with your time and talent, you can affect progress and brand advancement in a meaningful way.  Visit LATechSports.com/BarkLouder today. You bark. We bark. Louder together.
 
SOCIAL MEDIA
For all the latest in Bulldog Baseball, follow us on X (@LATechBSB), Instagram (@LATechBSB), and Facebook (LATechBSB).