MIAMI, Fla. – The Diamond 'Dogs (15-16, 4-6 CUSA) dropped Friday night's CUSA contest to FIU (10-20, 2-8 CUSA), 7-4, at FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami.
 
The loss extends Tech's losing streak to eight games—the longest by a Bulldog team since losing nine consecutive contests during the 2014 season.
 
FIU jumped out front in the first with a leadoff homer on the second pitch of the day. The 'Dogs evened it up in the third on an RBI infield knock delivered by Colton Coates. Wesley Scott drew a four-pitch walk followed with a bunt single to give Tech a pair of runners with no outs.
 
Brecken Menuet then dropped a gem of a bunt for a base hit before a flyout advanced Scott to third. This allowed Coates to drive him in on a sharp grounder up the middle and off the glove of a diving FIU infielder for a hit.
 
The 'Dogs tied it up in the fifth with an RBI double to the right-center gap off the bat of Colby Lunsford before two runs in the seventh would give Tech a 4-2 lead. Coates ripped a two-out double to the left-center gap and an intentional walk was given to Lunsford, bringing Eli Berch up to bat.
 
The Bulldog backstop gave the Bulldogs a 3-2 lead with an RBI knock to right followed by Sebastian Mexico doubling the lead with an RBI double, scoring Lunsford.
 
FIU cut Tech's lead to one with a double and an RBI single to begin the home half and continued the inning with a fielder's choice, a wild pitch and a walk put two runners on with one out. Berch threw the lead runner out attempting to steal for the second out, but three-straight hits in the form of a single, two-run double and an RBI single would give the Panthers a 6-4 lead.
 
A two-out knock drove in an insurance run for the home side in the eighth to give them their seventh run, as the 'Dogs only managed a double and a walk across the final two frames to end the game.
 
Game 2 of the series is set for Friday, April 3 at the FIU Baseball Stadium in Miami. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. CT/6 p.m. ET.
 
Quotables
 
Head Coach Lane Burroughs:
"It was a tough night. I thought Declan was outstanding. He settled in—the leadoff hitter ambushed him on a fastball up and he got it out of the yard, but after that I thought he was really good. He pitched well enough to win the ball game, and we didn't get it done. Their starter was good, too. He's got good numbers—it's a Friday night, so you know you'll face a good arm no matter who you're playing. I thought our hitters did a good job with that two-spot in the seventh, and we go out and give it right back to them. It's very disappointing, but we have to come back tomorrow and show back up and keep fighting. That's our only option."
 
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).