Courtesy of LA Tech Athletic Communications
Louisiana Tech earned eight Conference USA awards, the league announced on Tuesday. It is the first time in program history that Tech earned five first team all-conference awards, with the previous high being three back in 2022 and 2017.
Coach Lane Burroughs was named CUSA Co-Coach of the Year, for the first -time in program history. Burroughs led the Bulldogs to a 41-15 record after a previous 28-31 season in 2023. Tech went 18-6 in Conference USA, earning the 2024 CUSA regular season title, and held a CUSA-best 11-1 record at home in league games. The Bulldogs secured a 26-5 record at JC Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
Ethan Bates was named CUSA Player of the Year, becoming the first Bulldog to receive this accolade. The Hot Springs, Arkansas native was named to CUSA All-Conference first team utility for the second year in a row. Bates’ 75 hits this season rank seventh in CUSA, and his 20 doubles rank first. Bates also led the conference in RBI with 69 while his 15 home runs ranked in the top five.
Dalton Davis, Cole McConnell, Luke Nichols, and Sam Brodersen were all named to the CUSA All-Conference First Team. Davis earned his first CUSA All-Conference selection after batting .332 with 64 hits and 49 RBI this season.
McConnell had a CUSA-best batting average of.382, while he also led the conference in hits with 83 this season. The senior outfielder ranked in the top three in Conference USA for RBI with 66, home runs with 17, and runs with 62.
Nichols was second in the Conference USA with a 3.50 ERA. Nichols had his first complete game this season against WKU on May 11, in which he went seven innings with five punchouts and allowed five hits with two runs. Missouri native Nichols had a career-high nine strikeouts against Liberty on May 17. Nichols has 73 strikeouts with 25 walks in 72 innings pitched (15 appearances).
Brodersen has a 2.55 ERA in relief this season. Brodersen leads Tech’s bullpen with 85 punchouts and 35 walks, while batters facing Brodersen are hitting .159 at the plate. The D-II transfer also has seven wins on the mound for the Bulldogs.
Grant Comeaux was named to the CUSA All-Freshman team. Comeaux is batting .250 with 42 hits and 20 RBI. The redshirt freshman also has two homers and 20 doubles this season.
Player of the Year
Ethan Bates, LA Tech
Keith LeClair Co-Coaches of the Year
Lane Burroughs, LA Tech
First Team All-Conference
INF: Dalton Davis, LA Tech
OF: Cole McConnell, LA Tech
SP: Luke Nichols, LA Tech
RP: Sam Brodersen, LA Tech
UTL: Ethan Bates, LA Tech
All-Freshman Team
Grant Comeaux, LA Tech
