La. Tech shuts out FIU

MIAMI – After both Louisiana Tech and FIU combined to score 34 runs in the doubleheader Saturday, the two teams combined for just one run Sunday afternoon as the Bulldogs shut out the Panthers and closed the door on a 1-0 victory to salvage the three-game road series.

Tech (20-21, 5-15 C-USA) scored the only run of the game on an RBI single by Chandler Hall in the seventh to score Mason Paxton who singled earlier in the inning, while FIU (20-23, 10-11 C-USA) stranded 15 baserunners, including leaving the bases loaded three times. With the win, the Bulldogs recorded their first shutout victory since March 8, 2013 against Nebraska, while it also marks Tech’s first win on Sunday this season.

Both Tech and FIU starting pitchers were impressive on the day, but it was reliever Adam Atkins that picked up the win for the Bulldogs, a day after the right-hander was charged with the loss in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader. Atkins (2-4) came on in relief of starter Austin Greer in the sixth and pitched the final three innings, while allowing four hits, walking four and striking out three to close out the win for the Bulldogs. Greer started and pitched into the sixth inning, while holding FIU to four hits, three strikeouts and three walks.

Twelve of the 15 runners FIU left on base in the game came from the fifth inning and beyond as Atkins pitched out of multiple jams to preserve Tech’s one-run lead in the later innings.

As for FIU, starter Chris Mourelle (5-5) was charged with the loss after the sophomore right-hander gave up the only run of the game in the seventh. Mourelle allowed seven Tech hits, while striking out four and walking four in the loss. Danny Dopico came on to pitch the ninth for FIU and gave up one hit, while walking one and striking out one.

The Bulldogs and Panthers were locked in a scoreless ballgame through the first six innings with both teams stranding multiple runners on base in that span, but Tech finally broke through in the seventh when Paxton led off the inning by beating out an infield single. Paxton then tagged up and took second base on a heads up play when Jacob Derouen flew out to deep left field for the first out of the inning. That is when Hall came through with the eventual game-winning single through the right side to score Paxton and give Tech a 1-0 advantage.

Paxton and Hall each had two hits in the game for the Bulldogs, while Hall recorded the only RBI between both teams with his base hit in the seventh. Brent Diaz tripled in the game, while Bre’shon Kimbell and Colby Johnson each had one hit apiece for Tech as well. Both teams had eight hits in Sunday’s series finale.

Tech returns home to host Stephen F. Austin at 6 p.m. Tuesday before welcoming UTSA to town for a three-game Conference USA series beginning Friday at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park in Ruston.