Seattle University fell behind early and let significant scoring chances slip away, allowing Louisiana Tech to win the teams’ Western Athletic Conference baseball opener, 5-2, Saturday afternoon at J.C. Love Field.
Seattle U threatened to score in the top of the first inning, as Chase Fields (Ontario, Ore.) was hit by a pitch, followed by back-to-back one-out walks drawn by Ryan Somers (Sammamish, Wash.) and Sean Narby (Auburn, Wash.). However, Louisiana Tech starter Phil Maton settled down, striking out the side to leave the bases loaded without anyone scoring.
Louisiana Tech (10-14, 1-0 WAC) immediately jumped on the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning when Sam Alvis led off with a single and Bre’shon Kimbell hit a two-run home run just inside the left field foul pole.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Taylor Terrasas led off with a walk, and Tyler Ervine followed with a single up the middle. After both runners advanced one base on a balk committed by Seattle U starter Ted Hammond (Shoreline, Wash.), Ryan Gebhardt drove in Terrasas with a single through the left side of the infield, and Ervine would come home when the Redhawks turned a double play, increasing the Bulldogs’ lead to 4-0.
The Redhawks broke through in the top of the fifth inning when Fields laced a one-out double to left field and scored on a single to center field by Nate Roberts (Silverdale, Wash.). The Bulldogs answered right back in the bottom of the fifth as Alvis smashed a solo home run over the wall in left field.
Seattle U had another chance to close its deficit in the sixth inning when Grant Newton (Bend, Ore.) and Cash McGuire (Kent, Wash.) put together back-to-back singles, but Louisiana Tech was able to turn a double play to end the Redhawk scoring chance.
Leading off the top of the seventh inning, Landon Cray (Chimacum, Wash.) dropped a bunt and forced a wild throw, advancing to second base. Fields walked, and Roberts advanced both runners one base with a sacrifice bunt. Somers drove in Cray with a sacrifice fly to right field, and Narby hit a shot destined for left field, but Bulldog third baseman Ryan Jones made a diving catch to prevent Fields from scoring.
Brian Olson (Black Diamond, Wash.) led off the eighth inning with a double and Newton followed with a single to put runners on first and third with nobody out. However, Bulldog reliever Caleb Dudley made sure the runners did not score, earning consecutive strikeouts to end the Redhawk threat. Dudley set down the Redhawks in order in the ninth inning to earn his fourth save of the season.
Maton earned his fourth victory of the season for the Bulldogs, allowing six hits, three walks, and two runs in seven innings while striking out six Redhawk batters. Hammond suffered his first loss of the season, giving up seven hits and five runs in 4 1/3 innings of work.
Newton and McGuire each went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Redhawks, who finished with eight hits. At the top of the Bulldog lineup, Alvis and Kimbell each put together a 2-for-4 day offensively, and Tyler Qualls also collected two hits for Louisiana Tech.
Seattle University (8-13, 0-1 WAC) continues the three-game series against Louisiana Tech Sunday, March 24, at 1 p.m. local time (11 a.m. Pacific time) and Monday, March 25, at 6 p.m. Central time.