By Drew Parsley, Louisiana Tech Associate Director Strategic Communications; featured photo by Drew Parsley
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. — Louisiana Tech (23-13, 8-3 CUSA) fell to Middle Tennessee (16-20, 3-9 CUSA) in a closely contested Sunday series finale, 4-3, at Reese Smith Jr. Field.
The Blue Raiders got their offensive attack started in the first after a one-out single and a groundout put a runner in scoring position early. After a walk was drawn on a full count, a two-run double was ripped to the right-center gap to give Middle Tennessee a quick 2-0 lead.
The Bulldogs answered back when Trey Hawsey drew a one-out walk before Eli Berchpumped his third homer of the year to the opposite field side to tie the game in the second inning. Once the game went through a scoreless third frame, Middle Tennessee took back the lead after a single and a double put a pair of runners in scoring position before a groundout scored a run.
Thaxton Berch tied the game on his own with an unconventional inside-the-park home run that was scored as a double and a throwing error. The Bulldog center fielder ripped a ball past the third baseman down the left field line and sped to second base safely for the assured double. An overthrow to the second baseman allowed Berch to move up to third before dashing home as the ball was bobbled in foul territory on the right field side to tie the game yet again.
The tie would break again in the sixth after the Blue Raiders led off the home half of the frame with a solo shot to left field. Tech was unable to push across the tying run as the final nine batters of the game were retired in order.
Eli Berch had himself a stellar day on both the offensive and defensive side of the game. He drove in two of his team’s three runs with his two-run homer while also throwing out three runners attempting to steal a base, bringing his season total to 11 runners caught stealing.
The Bulldogs are back in action in their home state for a quick road trip to Monroe on Tuesday, April 15 to face ULM at 6 p.m. CT in the second of their three-game season series before returning to the Love Shack to host Liberty for a weekend series to kickstart a nine-game homestand on Thursday, April 17 at 6 p.m. CT.
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