Tech takes wins over parish neighbor Grambling
, buddy@rustonleader.com
02-22-2009
If the first two games are any measuring stick, Louisiana Tech University should sweep a three-game, season-opening series against Grambling State University today.The Bulldogs slammed the Tigers 15-3 at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park Friday night before cruising to a 20-1 win at the GSU diamond Saturday afternoon.
Action between the Lincoln Parish neighbors ends today with a 1 p.m. single game at the Bulldogs’ facility.
There was no mistaking Tech’s readiness for the 2009 season to get under way, as a total of 35 runs and 31 hits were registered in the first two games.
Add on a defensive effort that had only one error (in Saturday’s contest) and it was about as complete a performance as coach Wade Simoneaux could hope for with his Western Athletic Conference team.
“Our guys did a good overall job,” Simoneaux said. “We had the bats working well both games and it was plenty to support the good pitching that we were able to get from several of our pitchers.
“We have a lot of respect for Grambling’s team and we knew we would have to come out and play well and sustain it for the full game.”
Righthander John Anderson started and worked six innings while allowing four hits and one earned run in the first-game win. He struck out eight batters. Mike Jefferson didn’t give up a hit in two innins and Graham Meyers issued one earned run and a hit in one inning of duty to finish up for the ’Dogs.
“Anderson came out with his best staff and had some good defensive work to back him up,” Simoneaux said. “I felt good about us producing some runs for him and that’s what happened. Our seven-through-nine hitters had eight hits in 15 times at bat.”
Leadoff hitter Patrick Thomas drove in three runs with a triple and single and third sacker Chris Kersten had two runs batted in with a home run and double.
Designated hitter Clint Ewing cracked a home run and added a single,while catcher Matt Combs plated three runs with a home run, double and two singles. Centerfield Clint Stubbs tripled and added a single.
In Saturday’s game, freshman Jeb Stefan started and gave up only one hit and struck out five batters in five innings. Closing out were former Choudrant High star Jamey Bradshaw with a three-hitter over two innings and Alex Richard with two innings of hitless work.
Kersten, a senior, had another big day at the plate with six runs batted in off of two home runs in two at bats.
Combs had a grand slam homer and Thomas unloaded a two-run home run.
First sacker Alex Williams had two singles and an RBI and Ewing drove in two runs with a single.
The back-to-back victories left Tech with eight consecutive victories against Grambling State, including seven in which the Bulldogs reached double figures in runs scored.
Catcher Brandon Smith had a single and double to lead GSU in the first game and outfielder Anthony Clifton and shortstop Manny Kumar totaled two hits each in the final contest.
The Bulldogs did all of their scoring in Saturday’s games during the first four innings.
Tech started off with five runs in the first, followed with six in the second, added on two in the third and then closed out with seven runs in the fourth frame.
In the Friday night win, Tech did most of its scoring in the late innings. After leading 5-0 through four innings, the Bulldogs struck for five runs in the fifth, three in the six and two in the eighth inning.
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