Louisiana Tech sweeps WKU Baseball in weekend series

Redshirt+junior+pitcher+Michael+Darrell-Hicks+%2815%29+peers+over+his+glove+during+the+WKU+baseball+game+against+Wright+State+on+Feb.+21%2C+2020+at+Nick+Denes+Field.

Redshirt junior pitcher Michael Darrell-Hicks (15) peers over his glove during the WKU baseball game against Wright State on Feb. 21, 2020 at Nick Denes Field.

Camden Bush, Baseball reporter

The Hilltoppers(17-33, 7-20 C-USA) were swept by the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs (36-17, 18-9 C-USA) in their three-game weekend series that concluded on Sunday in Ruston, Louisiana.

The series loss for WKU comes just a week after the squad’s big weekend series victory over the UAB Blazers.

Game 1

Louisiana Tech got off to an early lead and destroyed the Hilltoppers 16-4 in game one of the series.

Junior Devyn Terbrak got the start for WKU Friday night and had a rare poor performance. Terbrak went 5.2 innings and allowed nine earned runs on 12 hits and two walks. Redshirt senior Cade Gibson picked up the win for the Bulldogs by going five innings and allowing three runs on nine hits and three strikeouts.

The Hilltoppers recorded 11 hits despite only managing to score four runs. Carlin led the way for the WKU offense with three base hits. The Bulldogs’ offense dominated the Hilltoppers with 17 hits on Friday. Three different Bulldog batters recorded three hits, including sophomore Cole McConnell, contributing four RBIs and scoring four runs.

The Bulldogs got off to a quick start with two runs in the bottom of the first, including a leadoff home run. The Hilltoppers then made it 2-1 in the top of the second on an RBI single. Louisiana Tech then put up two in the bottom of the third before the Hilltoppers responded with two of their own at the top of the fourth to make it 4-3. 

The Bulldogs blew things wide open with five runs in the fifth and seven runs in the seventh. The Hilltoppers were only able to manage one more run in the seventh as Louisiana Tech claimed a 16-4 victory.

Game 2

WKU quickly dug itself into another deficit Saturday and lost to the Bulldogs 7-2.

Sophomore Luke Stofel got the start for WKU in game two of the series. Stofel went 3.2 innings and allowed four runs on eight hits, picking up his seventh loss of the season. Senior Ryan Jennings picked up the victory for Louisiana Tech, going 7.1 innings and only allowing one run on three hits and eight strikeouts.

The Bulldogs dominated the Hilltoppers from the first inning. LA Tech senior Phillip Matulia hit a single to center field to bring home senior Taylor Young. Senior Jackson Lancaster hit a single to the right side of the field that scored two more runs to give the Bulldogs an early 4-0 lead in the first inning.

Steele Netterville hit a double down the foul line in the fourth inning to bring Taylor Young home for the second time, giving the Bulldogs a 5-0 lead. The Bulldogs scored two more runs in the sixth inning. LA Tech  maintained a 7-0 lead until WKU scored its only two runs in the eighth and ninth inning. 

The Hilltoppers had a rough day on offense in game two of the series. The club only managed four hits. Junior Matthew Meyer led the way with a hit and a walk. The Bulldogs’ offense had another strong performance as senior Steele Netterville led the way with four hits and two RBIs.

 

Game 3

The Bulldogs completed the series sweep with a 11-2 victory over the Hilltoppers Sunday.

Senior Sean Bergeron got the start for WKU. Bergeron went three innings and allowed seven runs on seven hits. Senior Jarret Whorff picked up the win for Louisiana Tech, going five innings and allowing two runs on seven hits.

Junior Tristin Garcia led the struggling Hilltopper offense on Sunday with two hits. Louisiana Tech on the other hand recorded nine hits on the day as each batter in the starting lineup had one hit.

Carlin got the Hilltoppers off to an early lead with a two RBI single in the top of the third to make it 2-0. Louisiana Tech then responded with seven runs in the bottom of the third. The Bulldogs then tacked on two runs in the bottom of the seventh and eighth to give the club an 11-2 victory. 

Up next, the Hilltoppers will head to Louisville to face Bellarmine. The game will take place at 2 p.m. CT

Baseball Reporter Camden Bush can be reached at [email protected].