Bates' bomb lifts Tech over WKU

The legend of Ethan Bates continues.

After trailing the entire game, including a 5-2 deficit through four innings, Louisiana Tech (36-15, 13-6 CUSA) secured a walk-off win courtesy of Bates' brilliance on a three-run home run to deep right field off Western Kentucky closer Mason Burns - tied with Bates with 14 saves coming into Friday. So much for that.

Cole McConnell's sharp RBI single cut the WKU lead to 7-6, putting runners on the corners for the Golden Spikes Watchlist member. If you've been paying any attention to Louisiana Tech baseball (36-15, 13-6 CUSA) this year, it shouldn't surprise you what happened next. No one in the country is like Bates, especially when the moment demands it.

After smoking a curve ball from Burns foul, Bates didn't miss the second time - launching a 3-2 pitch deep into the Ruston night sky for 9-7 win for Tech, tying the CUSA standings between the two teams.

"The adjectives, you've ran out," Tech head coach Lane Burroughs said. "The season he's having is unbelievable. I don't know where we'd be without him. Even last year. We didn't have a great year, but without Ethan I don't know where we would have been. It would have been worse. He's so good for us on the mound and at the plate and came through tonight with the heroics.

"He's a dog. Yesterday at practice, I did one word. It hit me at night at one in the morning - one word for every senior. His was dog. That's what he is. He wants the moment. Whether it's on the mound or at home plate, that dude wants the big moment. he came through again tonight."

Bates finished the night 3-5 with his big HR and 3 RBIs. Through 51 games, he's hitting .333 with 14 HR and 66 RBIs. Oh, and he's got 14 saves on the mound with 45 strikeouts. No one in the country has 14 HR and 14 saves.

The only reason Tech was able to win it on Bates' walk-off was the pitching of reliever Ryan Harland (3.1 IP, 1 hit, 0 runs, 3 Ks). Harland, who came into the night with an ERA near 9.00, started his outing with the bases loaded with nobody out, with WKU already ahead 6-3. After allowing an unearned sac fly to right for WKU to go up 7-3, Harland was locked in the rest of the evening.

The junior from Baton Rouge pitched a season-high 3.1 innings, giving up a double in the 8th - only for WKU to be sat down on a pop out and two strikeouts. 

"We don't win the game without Harland coming in and doing what he did. He came in and quieted the storm," Burroughs said. "They dominated us and they got a really good team. Honestly, thought we played really tight early. Reed [Smith] made two mistakes and they jumped on them for a two-run and three-run homer.

Smith, Tech's starter, gave up 6 earned through 4.1 IP, to go with 5 Ks. But thanks to the efforts of Harland and Sam Broderson, Tech survived the storm WKU brought.

After striking out his third batter of the game, Harland pumped his fist in the air and yelled toward his dugout - well aware this moment was his and it was right when his team needed it most.

Burroughs could see it too.

"He kind of went back to who he was two years ago when he was a freshman all American," Burroughs said. "You forget about the play he made on the safety squeeze. It's bases loaded, nobody out and he gets a sac fly and minimizes the damage. The game could have gotten out of hand. You didn't want to get too deep into your bullpen on a Friday night when we gotta win this series."

Along with Bates' big night, Davis went 3-5 with a solo HR, and Michael Ballard went 2-4 with a two-run HR as part of his 3 RBIs. McConnell picked up two hits as well, including his RBI single in the 9th.

Game two starts at 2 p.m. Saturday at J.C. Love Field.