By Branford Clay, Louisiana Tech Associate Director Strategic Communications
LYNCHBURG, Va — A series sweep against Liberty earns Louisiana Tech the 2024 CUSA regular-season title.
DBU and Louisiana Tech both get a share of the title, depending on DBU and LA Tech finishing with the same conference record. Louisiana Tech (40-15, 18-6 CUSA) picked up a series sweep against Liberty (22-31, 11-12 CUSA) after taking both games on Friday night.
GAME ONE
Tech came out the gate hot, picking up four runs in the first three innings. Dalton Davisbatted in a two-RBI double to Adarius Myers and Michael Ballard home. Later, Jorge Corona earned his second career inside-the-park home run after Liberty’s left fielder crashed into the wall, allowing Ethan Bates and Jorge to score. Liberty cut the score to two following a home run from Kane Kepley. Eventually, in the sixth inning, Tech picked up four more runs after Cole McConnell earned an RBI single, scoring Kasten Furr. Ethan Bates followed with an RBI triple, scoring McConnell putting Tech up 6-2. Then, Jorge Corona picked up his second homer of the game when he hit a two-run bomb to the video board. In the eighth and ninth innings, Liberty combined for eight runs, tying the game in the bottom of the ninth inning. Tech would score four runs in the eleventh inning after Adarius Myers secured a two-RBI ground-rule double, and Kasten Furr secured a two-RBI single to finish the game at 12-8.
GAME TWO
Tech kept the run scoring going in the second of the doubleheader. The Diamond Dogs put up three runs in the first inning following two costly mistakes from Liberty. The Flames fought back with a homer in the second inning to put the game at 3-1. Grant Comeaux earned an RBI after he doubled to right center. In the fourth inning, Tech secured a run after a Michael Ballard RBI sacrifice flyout scored Cole McConnell, making a 5-1 game. Later in the sixth inning, Tech scored four runs from a pair of RBI singles from Ethan Bates, Jorge Corona, and Michael Ballard. Adarius Myers, in the eighth inning, picked up an RBI, putting the game at 10-1.
Tech pitchers Luke Nichols and Grant Hubka had career/season-high strikeouts on the day. Nichols struck out nine on Friday, walked three batters, and gave up five hits with two runs. Grant Hubka struck out seven on Friday, walked three batters, and gave up two hits with one run.
UP NEXT
Louisiana Tech secured the one seed in the CUSA Conference Tournament, and will play on Wednesday that time is yet to be determined.