By Drew Parsley, Louisiana Tech Associate Director Strategic Communications
HATTIESBURG, Miss. — Louisiana Tech (5-2) closed the weekend series with the Southern Miss Golden Eagles (7-1) Saturday with a doubleheader split. Southern Miss wonGame 2 of the series 8-4 and LA Tech took the finale 5-2 at Pete Taylor Park.
Brooks Roberson shined on the mound in the first doubleheader clash, tossing 5 2/3 innings without allowing a hit. The freshman gave up just one run on two walks and fanned seven Golden Eagles in his second career outing.
Luke Cooley was the lifeline during the Diamond ‘Dogs’ series finale win. It was his second-straight outing going at least five innings and recording seven strikeouts. His line for the day ended at 5 2/3 innings, four hits, one run and seven strikeouts, along with his second win of the season.
The Waynesboro, Mississippi native had thrown 10 consecutive scoreless innings before allowing a run on a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch on a 3-2 count.
Jake Smith tabbed his first collegiate start at shortstop in the second game of the day, along with picking up his first career hit as a Division I athlete. He ended the day going 1-3 at the plate with a run scored. Matt Houstonalso picked up his first hit as a Bulldog in the second game.
Game 1:
The Bulldogs came out of the gate hot to start the first game on Saturday, plating two runs early in the first inning after being shutout in the series opener Friday night. Garrison Berkley led off with a bunt single on the first pitch of the game followed by a bunt by Michael Ballard to advance him. The Southern Miss catcher overthrew the first baseman which allowed Ballard to score and Berkley to advance to third.
Eli Berch then served a one-out RBI double to the right-center gap, giving the Bulldogs an early 2-0 advantage.
The Golden Eagles responded with a five-spot in the home half of the frame. The first four batters of their lineup reached base to put a run on the board before a sacrifice fly followed to even it up at 2-2. A three-run home run capped off the scoring for the inning and gave Southern Miss a 5-2 lead.
The same batter with the three-run homer then delivered a two-run shot in the third to push the Golden Eagles to a 7-2 lead. The ‘Dogs added a run in the fifth on a single by Berkley and a throwing error by the Southern Miss outfielder, and one in the eighth on an RBI double by Sebastian Mexico.
However, it was not enough for LA Tech as Southern Miss matched with a run scored in the eighth on a sacrifice fly to take the first of Saturday’s doubleheader and clinch the series.
Game 2:
The Diamond ‘Dogs came out with a similar start in the series finale as they had in the game prior, with two runs early in the first inning. Ballard put the ‘Dogs on the board with a solo shot to left for his second long ball of the season. Zeb Ruddell then delivered an RBI base hit to give LA Tech a 2-0 lead in the first inning once again.
Thanks to the pitching production from Cooley, the Bulldogs were able to operate more freely on the offensive side. With Southern Miss being shut out through the first five frames, LA Tech was able to grow a 4-0 lead from an infield RBI single by Berch and an RBI groundout from Grant Comeaux.
The Golden Eagles struck the scoreboard after a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch, but were kept at bay offensively as their only other run was scored on a solo shot in the eighth. An RBI base hit from Ballard in the ninth proved to be the dagger, as Blake Hooks picked up a four-out save for his second of the season and give the Bulldogs their fifth win of the season.
Berkley ended the day with multi-hit games in both games on Saturday. The Aledo, Texas native had three hits in the first game and two hits in the series finale.
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