Late rally lifts Bulldogs past Warhawks 10-3

MONROE, La. – Louisiana Tech put together all the ingredients of a big inning in a seven-run seventh frame to race past Louisiana-Monroe 10-3 at Warhawk Field on Tuesday night. Louisiana Tech batted around in the seventh to turn a 3-1 deficit into an 8-3 lead.

First baseman Ben Brantley and shortstop Alex Ray started the seventh-inning rally with a pair of singles before leadoff batter Taylor Young loaded the bases on a four-pitch walk. Hunter Wells trimmed ULM's lead to 3-2 with an RBI single through the left side before Ray came home to tie the game on a wild pitch from ULM's Landon Longsworth.

After a bases-loaded walk from right fielder Steele Netterville helped Louisiana Tech retake the lead at 4-3, left fielder Philip Matulia delivered the hit of the night with a bases-clearing triple off the wall in left-center to make it 7-3.

Catcher Jorge Corona tacked on Louisiana Tech's seventh run of the inning with an RBI single through the left side. Louisiana Tech's seven-run seventh inning helped the Bulldogs jump back in front for the first time since a 1-0 advantage in the top of the second.

In total, the Bulldogs tallied seven runs in the seventh inning behind five hits, three walks and a hit batsman. Louisiana Tech has now won 11 of its past 12 games against the Warhawks dating back to 2007.

"When it really mattered tonight, Matulia delivered with the three-run triple," Louisiana Tech head coach Lane Burroughs said. "He was flying at low altitude.

"What a great swing he had after two not very good at-bats to start off the game. It was about the ability to put failure behind us and move forward. I couldn't be more proud of our guys.”

Right-hander Tanner Knight helped keep the Bulldogs within striking distance after taking over for starter Cade Hodges in the second inning. Knight worked four innings on the mound while allowing just four hits and one earned run. He struck out four.

Fellow right-hander Greg Martinez recorded his second pitching victory of the season with 3 1/3 scoreless innings to close out the game for the Bulldogs.

Martinez struck out six, stranding three ULM baserunners in scoring position.

Martinez's toughest test came in the bottom of the seventh right after Louisiana Tech had taken its 8-3 lead. The Warhawks loaded the bases with a pair of singles and a walk before Martinez ended the threat with a ground out from Carson Jones.

Louisiana Tech struck first when Manny Garcia smacked a homer for the second straight game, putting the Bulldogs up 1-0 in the second.

The advantage did not last long as ULM scored a run in the bottom half to tie the game before a run each in the third and sixth innings put the Warhawks up 3-1.

Louisiana Tech capped their scoring with two runs in the ninth. Matulia again sparked the offense with a one-out single before scoring on Corona's two-out single to push the lead to 9-3. Pinch runner Adarius Myers tallied the Bulldogs' 10th run of the night on a wild pitch.

Matulia, Wells and Corona each registered two-hit performances on the evening.