by Malcolm Butler
For a team that is known for big blasts, Louisiana Tech used a swinging bunt from Adarius Myers with two outs in the top of the ninth to plate the game-winning run in a 4-3 road victory over Liberty Thursday night.
With the win, Tech (39-15, 16-6 CUSA) is now two wins away from securing the regular season conference title. It will have a chance to do it today as the Bulldogs play a doubleheader against the Flames (22-30, 11-11) starting at noon.
With the score tied at 3-3 and runners on the corners with two outs, Myers hit a chopper in front of the plate that Liberty wasn’t able to make a play on in time to get the speedy Tech left fielder, scoring Ethan Bates from third.
Bates then recorded his nation-leading 15th save of the season in the bottom of the ninth as the Bulldogs picked up a crucial CUSA win.
Tech enters today trailing Dallas Baptist by a half game after the Patriots swept a road doubleheader from Middle Tennessee Thursday. Those two teams will play the final game of the series today.
With the win, the Bulldogs also locked up no worse than the No. 2 seed in the upcoming CUSA Tournament which will be hosted by Tech May 22-26 at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
Kasten Furr opened up the scoring Thursday with a solo home run down the left field line to give the Bulldogs the early 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning. The Flames responded with a three-run bottom of the fourth inning against Tech starter Reed Smith to take the two-run lead.
However, Tech responded in the top of the sixth inning. Grant Comeaux drove home Michael Ballard with a ground out to first and then Myers scored the tying run on a throwing error by the Liberty first baseman.
Sam Brodersen came on in relief for Tech with runners on second and third and no outs in the bottom of the sixth inning, but was able to pitch his way out of the inning without surrendering a run. Brodersen (7-1) picked up the win in relief, working 3.0 scoreless innings, allowing no hits and three walks while striking out three.
Myers led Tech offensively with a three-hit performance.
