ARLINGTON, Texas -- Louisiana Tech plated two runs in the 11th inning to post a 6-4 win at UTA to sweep a three-game series and win its seventh consecutive game to open the year, on Sunday afternoon at Clay Gould Ballpark.
UTA (2-6) fell behind early for the first time in the series, allowing single Louisiana Tech (7-0) runs in the second and sixth innings and a two-run homer in the third. The Mavs mounted rallies in the fifth and sixth inning with an inning-ending double play thwarting the fifth-inning threat. UTA got its first two on in the sixth and plated a run, before mounting a furious rally in the seventh inning, plating three runs to even up the game at 4-4.
Louisiana Tech wiggled out of several jams in the game with clutch pitching. The Bulldogs stranded the bases loaded twice, and with the bases juiced in the bottom of the 10th inning and one out, turned an inning-ending double play. Despite not striking out until the seventh inning, the Mavs finished stranded 15 runners on base, hitting into two double plays.
In the 11th, Louisiana Tech took advantage of a leadoff error to plate a pair of unearned runs for the final margin.
UTA has played three extra-inning games through its first eight outings and have had five of its games decided by two runs or less.
ON THE MOUND
UTA started junior southpaw Jakob Hernandez allowed eight hits and four runs, walking three and striking out six over six innings. To start the seventh inning, UTA turned to Jordon West, who got five outs, without allowing a run, and worked into the eighth inning. The Mavs used lefty Adam Meyer in a two-out jam in the eighth in relief of West. Meyer stranded the bases loaded and kept the game tied at 4-4. Meyer (0-1) took the hard-luck loss, allowing two unearned runs in the 11th. Meyer finished with three innings worked. Dylan Schneider worked the final out in the 11th.
Bulldogs senior right-handed starter Cameron Linck worked 4.1 shutout innings, allowing two hits and three walks, not recording a strikeout. Austin Harrison took over in the fifth inning, getting a double play to escape a threat. Harrison worked 1.2 innings, allowing a run on two hits and a walk, before Casey Sullivan started the bottom of the seventh inning in relief. Sullivan faced three hitters, allowing two hits and an error. Sullivan, Tim Jordan, Mark Baughman and Matt Miller each worked in relief in the seventh inning. Zack Hamilton (1-0) was the seventh reliever for the Bulldogs, working 2.2 innings, allowing four hits and two strikeouts. Nate Harris worked the 11th for the third save of the year.
LEADING THE MAVS
The Mavs collected 12 hits in the game, drawing eight walks and striking out just three times. All nine UTA position starters had hits. UTA got two-hit games from Phil Berthiaume, Brady Cox and Quintin Rohrbaugh, with Will Olson, Omar Salinas, Noah Vaughan, Colton Turner, RJ Williams and Easton Johnson each adding hits.
HOW THEY SCORED
Louisiana Tech opened the scoring in the top of the second inning, getting a leadoff single from Raphael Gladu and a one-out knock from Jonathan Washam. After a second out and a walk, Dalton Skelton singled up the middle to score Gladu.
The Bulldogs got a pair of runs in the third inning, getting a leadoff single from Brent Diaz and after a pair of outs, Chase Lunceford belted a two-run homer over the rightfield fence.
UTA cut into the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, getting a four-pitch walk from Olson to leadoff and a single off the mitt of the pitcher and second baseman from Brady Cox. Salinas then scored Olson from third with an RBI fielder's choice.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, UTA got a leadoff single from Williams and Johnson forced him to third with a comebacker to the mound that allowed him to reach on a throwing error. With runners on the corners and no outs, Berthiaume poked a single through the right side. After an out and a pitching change, Cox drew a five-pitch walk to load the bases for Salinas with one out. Salinas drew the RBI walk to re-load the bags for Rohrbaugh. Rohrbaugh then singled through the left side to score a run and tie the game.
The Bulldogs took the lead in the top of the 11th inning as Mason Robinson reached on a leadoff error, taking second on a sacrifice bunt and scoring on Cody Daigle's RBI single.
NEXT
UTA returns to action on Tuesday, hosting No. 23 Dallas Baptist at 6:30 p.m. at Clay Gould Ballpark.
