Louisiana and Louisiana Tech met tonight on the baseball diamond for their yearly matchup. In a back-and-forth affair early, Louisiana was able to score four runs in the fifth and two in the seventh to push away from the Bulldogs to win the game 10-5.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Louisiana was able to get two early outs to start the game, but back-to-back doubles by Dalton Davis and Jorge Corona gave Louisiana Tech the 1-0 advantage. However, in the bottom of the first, Heath Hood hit a solo shot to right field that got a little help from the wind to tie the game at one run apiece.
A double by Walker Burchfield started the second inning for Tech, with Burchfield scoring on an RBI single from Logan McLeod. Later in the inning, a throwing error from Mason Zambo on a double play attempt plated another run for the Bulldogs to make it 3-1 Louisiana Tech in the second.
Louisiana was able to get one run back in the second thanks to an RBI double by Will Veillon to score Julian Brock and cut the lead to 3-2 after two complete innings.
In the bottom of the third, a single and a hit batter set up the opportunity for Carson Roccaforte to reach on a fielder’s choice and later give himself up on the basepaths with the suicide steal to score Ben Robichaux and tie the game for Louisiana.
Heath Hood gave Louisiana the lead in the fifth with a two-run triple into the right-center gap to score Willis and Robichaux to make it 5-3 Cajuns. The next batter was Roccaforte, who singled to right to score Hood and make it 6-3 in favor of Louisiana. After an error puts both runners in scoring position, John Taylor sacrificed to first, scoring Roccaforte and pushing it to 7-3.
Logan McLeod launched a two-run home run to right field to make it a 7-5 game after six complete innings at Russo Park.
In the seventh, John Taylor tattooed a baseball 102 miles per hour to right field for a two-run homer to make it 9-5 Louisiana late in the contest.
Next inning, Max Marusak joined the home run party with a solo homer to straightaway center field that went off his bat at 106 miles per hour.
Carson Fluno stayed out for the ninth as Louisiana got the midweek win over Louisiana Tech 10-5.
BIG NUMBER: 18
There were 18 base hits between both Louisiana and Louisiana Tech, leading to 15 runs in an offensive battle.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Cooper Rawls/Heath Hood/John Taylor
Rawls came into the game in relief of Brendan Moody and was very efficient, pitching 4.2 innings with a pair of hits, two runs, and striking out six.
Meanwhile, Hood went 2-3 at the plate with a triple, home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored.
John Taylor had a great night as well with his two-run homer and three RBIs. However, his biggest impact was in the field as he made a pair of huge #WebGems.
UP NEXT: Louisiana will travel to Hammond America for a midweek matchup with Southeastern Louisiana on Wednesday night. The first pitch from Pat Kennelly Diamond is set for 6:00 p.m.