By Malcolm Butler
Cole McConnell recorded four hits and five pitchers combined for 15 strikeouts to lead Louisiana Tech to a 7-2 win over UL-Lafayette Wednesday night, snapping the Ragin’ Cajuns nation-leading 16-game winning streak.
Tech (26-9) pounded out 15 hits, including three-hit performances by Jorge Corona and Michael Ballard, scoring three runs in the third, two in the fourth and two more in the sixth, as the Bulldogs never trailed in the game.
The Bulldogs took a 3-0 lead in the top of the third inning on an RBI groundout by Ethan Bates, and RBI single by Ballard and a sacrifice fly by Will Safford.
After the Ragin Cajuns closed the deficit to 3-1 on a solo home run in the bottom of the third, Tech responded in the visitor half of the fourth with an RBI double by McConnell and an RBI single by Corona, giving the Bulldogs a 5-1 advantage.
ULL (25-9) added a run in the bottom of the fourth on a two-out triple to left field, closing the Tech lead to 5-2.
Tech plated two more runs in the top of the sixth inning on run-scoring single by Ballard and Grant Comeaux to push the lead back to 7-2.
Grant Hubka got the start on the mound, striking out six Ragin Cajuns in 3.0 innings of action. Luke Nichols (1.0 IP, 3 Ks), B Hooks (2.0 IP, 1 K), Sam Brodersen (2.0 IP, 3 Ks) and Ethan Bates (1.0 IP, 2 Ks, Save) combined to hold the hot-hitting Cajuns to just two runs on 10 hits in the win.
It marked the first loss by ULL since falling to Arkansas State on March 15.
Tech will travel to face Arizona in a three-game series in Tuscon starting Friday.
