Box Score LITTLE
ROCK
- The Louisiana Tech offense produced 15 hits and scored the final six runs of
the contest, as the Bulldogs (3-2) handed UALR (3-1) its first loss of the 2012
season on Wednesday at Gary Hogan Field by a final of 11-9. Six different
Louisiana Tech players had multiple hits on the day, while the Trojans were led
by a 2-for-3, two-RBI effort by senior Greg
Garcia.
Four UALR players had a multi-hit days in the loss. In
addition to Garcia, junior David Guarno
went 2-for-5 with two RBI, while senior Sean
Bignall went 2-for-4 with two runs scored. Junior Blake Johnson finished the day 2-for-5 as well, while junior Chris Burk hit his second home run of
the season.
In a game that saw a combined 12 different pitchers
used between the two teams, Phil Maton (1-0) was credited with the win for the
Bulldogs after giving up one hit over 4.0 innings of work. Junior Tyler Buckley was given the loss for
the Trojans after surrendering two runs on three hits in 1.0 innings on the
mound.
The game saw plenty of offense early, as UALR and
Louisiana Tech combined for 14 runs over the first three innings of play.
Louisiana Tech got things started with three runs in the top of the first,
thanks to a three-run homer by Alex Williams after two Bulldogs singled and walked
to leadoff the contest.
UALR took the lead with a four-run frame of its own in
the bottom of the first. Guarno got things started with a two-RBI double to
left center that scored Garcia and Burk. A Bignall double then brought home
Guarno to tie the score, while a single by Johnson later in the inning plated
Bignall and gave UALR a 4-3 edge after one inning of play.
Tech answered with two runs in the top of the second.
Stephen Gandy's double to lead off the inning was followed by a walk to Taylor
Terrasas, and a Ryan Gebhart single through the left side plated Gandy to make
it a 4-4 game. A fielder's choice later in the inning would bring home Terrasas
to give the Bulldogs a 5-4 lead.
UALR retook the lead with a five-run outburst in the
bottom of the third. Burk led off the inning with a solo shot to right, while a
single, a drawn walk and a fielding error eventually loaded the bases for the
Trojans with one out. A drawn walk by sophomore Bryson Thionnet brought in the inning's second run, and senior Cameron Bentley drove in the third with
an infield RBI. A two-RBI single to left center by Garcia later in the inning
plated the Trojans' fourth and fifth runs of the frame and put them on top 9-5
after three innings of play.
The Trojans would not score again, however, and the
Bulldogs put up three runs in the fifth inning to pull within one, before
scoring three runs over the seventh and eighth innings to put themselves on
top.
Louisiana Tech used an RBI single by Tyler Qualls and a
two-RBI double by Gandy to put up three runs in the fifth. In the top of the
seventh, a solo shot by Austin Hedges accounted for the only Bulldog run of the
frame. With Buckley on the mound for UALR in the top of the eighth, Louisiana
Tech scored two runs on three hits, capped by an RBI double off the bat of
Hedges to bring the game to its 11-9 final score.
Caleb Dudley picked up the save for Louisiana Tech
after giving up no runs on one hit after coming on to start the ninth.
UALR returns to action on Friday with the first of a
four-game weekend in Nashville. The Trojans will play two games each against
Belmont and Bradley, with the opener set for 4 p.m. on Friday against Belmont.
