By Drew Parsley, Louisiana Tech Associate Director Strategic Communications
RUSTON — Louisiana Tech (31-23, 14-12 CUSA) concluded the 2025 regular season with a series win, taking the rubber game over New Mexico State (23-31, 11-15 CUSA), 8-1, on Senior Day at the Love Shack.
Kade Parker earned the win on the mound to improve to 4-1 on the year as a Bulldog. He tossed five scoreless innings allowing just two hits, one walk and striking out five Aggies. It was his third outing this year throwing at least five innings without a run.
After Parker retired the side in order to start the game, the ‘Dogs jumped to the attack with a four-spot in the home half of the first. Sebastian Mexico led off with a double to the left field corner then scored a base hit by Michael Ballard. Ballard ended up 90 feet from home following a wild pitch and a flyout before coming in on Colton Coates’ fourth homer of the season, giving Tech a 3-0 lead.
Garrison Berkley then stepped in and hit a single and advanced to second when Brody Drost was hit by a pitch. Thaxton Berch then capped off the frame for the ‘Dogs with a knock through the left side of the infield to score Berkley and give the ‘Dogs a 4-0 lead going into the second.
New Mexico State got a baserunner with a one-out single in the second, but the Bulldog defense turned its 42nd double play of the season to end the frame and bring them back up to bat. Mexico led off the frame for the second-straight inning, this time with a solo home run for his 11th of the year and extend Tech’s lead to five runs early on.
The third and fourth innings were quiet for both sides, but Tech’s offense continued to apply pressure scoring a run on a wild pitch in the fifth after the ‘Dogs loaded the bases on two hit-by-pitches and a four-pitch walk.
The Aggies struck the scoreboard for their only run of the afternoon in the top of the sixth after loading the bases on a pair of infield base hits and a fielder’s choice. A sacrifice fly cut Tech’s lead to 6-1 before a fly out ended the inning for New Mexico State.
Ballard put himself in scoring position in the bottom half on a misplayed grounder by the New Mexico State third baseman, eventually coming around to score on a single by Trey Hawsey on an 0-2 count with two outs. LA Tech capped off their scoring for the afternoon with another run across on a wild pitch in the seventh to give them an 8-1 lead.
Mexico continued his tear at the plate, picking up his team-leading 20th multi-hit game of the season, and Coates tallied his ninth multi-hit performance. Mexico and Ballard each scored two runs and eight Bulldogs in the starting lineup reached base safely in the game.
The ‘Dogs now look ahead to competing in the Conference USA Baseball Championship at Worthington Field at Liberty Baseball Stadium in Lynchburg, Virginia. Tech will enter the tournament as the No. 5 seed and face Jacksonville State on Wednesday, May 21 at 6:30 p.m. CT. All tournament games are streamed on ESPN+, and fans can tune in to the radio broadcast for the ‘Dogs on 97.7 FM or the LA Tech Athletics app.
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