Before Grambling State University could settle down, the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs jumped to a quick 5-0 second inning lead and did not look back. Tech won 10-2. Tech (14-7, 3-3 CUSA) ended the Tigers (10-14, 7-2 SWAC) four game winning streak.
Tech proved to be dominant at the square with 10 hits, nine RBI’s and a home run from Chase Lunceford. Lunceford has three home runs on the season. GSU’s recently powerful bats were limited to four hits and GSU chalked up three errors.
A four-run second inning featured a Brent Diaz RBI scarify fly to right field. Ralph Gladu stepped to the plate and drilled a RBI double down the right field line, and Tech led 4-0. Johan Mojica scored GSU’s first run, and Remon Grant was credited the RBI.
LATECH ATHLETICS/Courtesy photo
At J.C. Love Field, Diamyn Hall takes off after hitting a pitch that was thrown to him at Tuesday’s match-up.
“The errors really hurt us,” said Grambling State head baseball coach, James Cooper. “From the shortstop and also from the third basemen not being able to cut balls to stop runners from advancing. We weren’t able to hit tonight, we only had four hits total. In time, if your hits and your errors are one run away from each other, you’re going to find yourself losing ball games.”
Tech’s slugging carried throughout a three-run third inning. Lunceford had an RBI single, Darien Brown made an error, resulting in a Jordan Washam Diaz score, pushing Tech to a 8-1 lead.
GSU starter Brennan Williams was relieved in the fourth inning, finishing with one strikeout, five earned runs and eight hits. Marlon Pruitt was productive in the sixth inning, facing three batters, striking one out and allowing zero hits.
“We just didn’t hit. We didn’t put good swings on good pitches. We didn’t square balls up until the third inning,” added Cooper. “That’s too many guys that passed through the line-up that hadn’t got a base hit. Another thing was pitching wise we didn’t put any zeros up until the sixth inning.”
Torreon Woods replaced Pruitt in the seventh inning. Woods held Tech scoreless for two consecutive innings. Highlighted by Woods, who scooped up a bouncing bunt and threw across his body for the out. Cooper praised Woods for his effort.
“Torreon Woods picked up where Marlon Pruitt left off,” he said. “Pruitt is one of our better guys out of the bullpen and he was able to put a zero up. Woods had a three up three down innings. We went right back to him and he did it again.”
With the momentum in the seventh inning, Diamyn Hall walked, Remon Grant singled and Wesley Drain walked. With the bases loaded, Angel Peguero popped one up to right field, and Hall scored. But Tech closed the inning out with double play.
GSU will face the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff on the road Friday-Sunday (April 1-3) in a three game series.
The first pitch will be thrown Friday at 3 p.m.