RUSTON, La. – Parker Bates belted a three-run walk-off home in the eighth to lead No. 14 Louisiana Tech to a 10-7 win in extra innings of the nightcap of a pair of seven-inning games on Saturday at J.C. Love Field.
The Roadrunners were searching for their second win in the four-game series at the high-octane Bulldogs, after posting a 7-5 win on Friday night and falling 4-1 in the opener of the Saturday doubleheader.
UTSA fell behind after allowing a run in the first before bouncing back with a three-run second to take a two-run lead. The Bulldogs plated a single run in the fourth to cut the lead to one but UTSA got the tally back in the top of the fifth.
LA Tech used a five-run fifth inning to take a three-run lead into the seventh inning. The Roadrunners wouldn't quit, rallying with three runs in the seventh to force the bottom of the frame, getting a two-run double from Griffin Paxton to even the game.
UTSA managed to get runners on the corners with two outs in the top of the eighth inning to open extras but couldn't get the go-ahead runner across. Bates then ended the game with his three-run homer in the bottom of the eighth.
The Roadrunners saw junior centerfielder Dylan Rock go 3-for-4 and Jonathan Tapia collect a 2-for-4 game. Leyton Barry, who had a key two-run double in the second inning, went 2-for-4.
Junior shortstop Joshua Lamb extended his hitting streak to 18 games in the loss, going 1-for-3. Paxton, Sean Arnold and Nick Thornquist each collect hits.
UTSA (22-23, 14-16 Conference USA) starter John Chomko worked three strong innings, allowing two hits and one run, walking three with one strikeout.
Lefty Grant Miller opened the fourth inning, working a pair of outs before giving way to Daniel Garza. Garza got an out and allowed three hits and a pair of runs before lefty Jay Ward came on in relief. Ward hit a batter and gave up a hit, with both eventually scoring, exiting with the bases loaded in the fifth.
Senior Hunter Mason relieved Ward in the fifth, allowing a pair of hits, with both scoring, before giving way to Reece Easterling. Easterling worked two innings, allowing a hit and three walks, striking out one. After Easterling allowed the leadoff run to reach in the seventh, Arturo Guajardo (3-2) entered from the bullpen. Guajardo escaped the jam in the seventh but suffered the loss after the three runs scored in the bottom of the eighth.
Louisiana Tech (35-13, 21-8 C-USA) starter Cade Gibson worked 6.2 innings, allowing seven runs on nine hits without a walk and four strikeouts. Kyle Crigger came on with two outs in the seventh, blowing the save after allowing the game-tying knock. Landon Tomkins opened the first extra inning, getting a pair of outs before giving way to a left-handed reliver to face a left-handed hitter in the eighth. Kyle Griffen allowed a single to the lefty hitter he faced before giving way to Greg Martinez (4-0) with runners on the corners and two outs in the eighth, getting out of the jam and claiming the win in relief.
The series will conclude on Sunday with a 1 p.m. finale, broadcast live on ESPN+.
The Bulldogs plated a run in the first inning, getting a four-pitch walk and a single to open the inning. Parker Bates then hung a sacrifice fly to score Taylor Young, who opened the inning with a walk.
In the top of the second, UTSA struck for three runs on two hits and an error. Paxton was hit by a pitch and Lamb singled into centerfield to open. After a sacrifice bunt from Ryan Hunt moved the pair into scoring position, Barry doubled down the rightfield line, scoring the duo for a 2-1 lead. Ian Bailey then forced home Barry, hitting a grounder to the left side that went as a throwing error and allowed UTSA to take a 3-1 lead.
Steele Netterville ripped his ninth homer of the year with two outs in the fourth, cutting the lead to 3-2.
UTSA got the run back in the top of the fifth inning, getting a one-out single from Tapia, who took third after Rock's single into the gap. Thornquist followed with a sac fly, hung near the fence in foul ground down the rightfield line, allowing Tapia to slide in safe for a 4-2 lead.
LA Tech loaded the bases without an out in the fifth inning, getting a pair of singles and a hit batter. Manny Garcia scored a pair with a two-run double, evening the game at 4-4, and Cole McConnell gave the Bulldogs the lead with a single into left. Easterling came on in relief and issued a bases-loaded, four-pitch walk to force home a fourth run in the inning. Jorge Corona forced home the fifth run for a 7-4 lead with an RBI fielder's choice.
In the seventh, UTSA wouldn't quit, getting a one-out single from Arnold, who was replaced at first on a fielder's choice by Chris Shull. Tapia followed with a single and Rock forced home Shull with a single into left. Thornquist followed with a five-pitch walk to load the bases. Paxton then delivered the game-tying two-run double down the leftfield line, scoring Rock and Tapia to even the game at 7-7.
After a leadoff walk and a single, Bates belted a three-run, walk-off homer out to right-centerfield, his seventh of the year, giving LA Tech a 10-7 win.
GAME NOTES: Sophomore RHP John Chomko worked in his 12th game and made his fourth start … Junior LHP Grant Miller worked in his 19th game of the year … Freshman RHP Daniel Garza appeared in his 12th game of the year … Sophomore LHP Jay Ward worked in his 11th game … Senior RHP Hunter Mason pitched in his 20th game of the year and the 65th of his career … Junior RHP Reece Easterling pitched in his ninth game … Senior RHP Arturo Guajardo worked in his 14th game … Senior 1B Griffin Paxton has reached base safely in 41 of his 44 starts in 2021 … Paxton has reached base safely in 104 of 114 career starts … Paxton was hit by his 10th pitch of 2021 and the 17th of his career … Paxton doubled for the 15th time in 2021 and the 29th time in his career … Junior SS Joshua Lamb has an 18-game hitting streak … Lamb has reached base safely in 42 of 45 starts in 2021 … Lamb has reached base safely in 98 of 119 career starts … Sophomore 2B Leyton Barry doubled for the seventh time in 2021 and the eighth time in his career … Junior CF Dylan Rock has reached base safely in 23 straight games … Rock has reached base safely in 41 of 44 starts in 2021 … Rock has reached base safely in 151 of 166 career starts … Senior C Nick Thornquist has reached base safely in 42 of 45 starts in 2021 … Thornquist has reached base safely in 85 of 99 career starts … Thornquist doubled for the 10th time in 2021 and the 31st of his career … Thornquist hung his first sac fly of the year and the fourth of his career … Junior 3B Jonathan Tapia has reached base safely in 34 of 41 starts in 2021 … Tapia has made starts at second (18), third (19), shortstop (one), leftfield (two) and rightfield (one) in 2021 … Tapia has reached base safely in 97 of 119 career starts … UTSA leads the all-time series with Louisiana Tech, 14-13 and own a 9-9 record in Ruston.
- UTSA -
