MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — In his 23rd appearance but only his second start of the season and the longest outing of his career, Louisiana Tech senior righthander Landon Tomkins gave up only one run in six innings and DH/pitcher Ethan Bates knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly and earned his eighth save of the season with two scoreless innings pitched as Tech beat Middle Tennessee, 3-1, to win the weekend series and move into a tie with the Blue Raiders for fourth place in Conference USA on a windy, cold and cloudy Sunday afternoon at Reese Smith Jr. Field.