Bulldogs get party started in Lafayette
Louisiana Tech’s Jorge Corona dives back into first under the tag of ULL’s Trey LaFleur during Wednesday night’s action in Lafayette. Tech ended the Ragin’ Cajuns’ 16-game winning streak. Photo courtesy of ULL
A double-digit hitting effort secured Louisiana Tech a 7-2 victory over No. 19 UL-Lafayette on Wednesday night at M.L. “Tigue” Moore Field at Russo Park.
Tech (26-9) ended UL- Lafayette’s (24-9) 16-game win streak, the longest active streak in DI baseball entering the game. Tech earned its first win at ULL since 2020, which Tech won by a score of 10-0.
The Bulldogs also snapped a seven-game road losing streak against ranked opponents with the win.
After two scoreless frames, Tech secured three early runs in the top of the third inning to get the game rolling. Following singles from Cole McConnell and Jorge Corona, Ethan Bates earned Tech’s first run after reaching on a fielder’s choice, sending McConnell home.
Michael Ballard dropped an RBI single into center field, allowing Bates to cross home plate.
The final run came off a Will Safford sacrifice fly RBI, which scored Adarius Myers. Eventually, ULL cut into Tech’s lead when Kyle DeBarge homered to left center, making it a 3-1 game. However, Tech’s bats remained hot in the fourth inning when the Bulldogs added two extra runs to extend their lead.
McConnell (4-for-4, 3 runs), came through as part of a perfect night at the plate, doubled to left center, driving Kasten Furr home. Corona (3- for- 5, RBI) grew the lead to 5-1 on an RBI single to score McConnell. Later in the fourth inning, ULL scored its final run when John Taylor tripled to left field, picking up an RBI while making the game 5-2. Eventually, Tech notched its final two runs following a Ballard ( 3- for- 5, 2 RBIs) RBI single and a Grant Comeaux RBI single. Tech pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts on Wednesday night, the most since March 14, 2023, vs. Air Force when they struck out 17 batters.
Starting pitcher Grant Hubka struck out 6 batters while giving up just a sin-gle run in 3 innings pitched. Luke Nichols came in for an inning and struck out the side while allowing one run. Bulldog pitchers Blake Hooks ( 10), Sam Brodersen, and Ethan Bates combined for 6 strikeouts and 4 hits.
“ I’m extremely proud of our guys it was a big win tonight,” Tech head coach Lane Burroughs said. “ To come on the road and face a good team that had won 16 in a row, that’s not a fluke.
“To come into their house and break the streak is a good feeling and could not be more proud of our guys. The offense had 15 hits and kept the pressure on them tonight, while the pitching had a good night. I thought Grant Hubka had a good start. Hooks was unbelievable, and I think he might be the MVP of the game with two strong innings,” Burroughs continued.
Louisiana Tech will be on the road at Arizona on Friday for the start of a three-game series.
The first pitch for game one will be at 8 p.m. on ESPN+.
