RUSTON, La. – Louisiana Tech scored twice in the first inning, broke the game open with a six-run second inning and held off ULM's comeback attempt as the Bulldogs defeated the Warhawks, 8-4, Tuesday afternoon at J.C. Love Field and Pat Patterson Park.
 
LA Tech (21-6 overall) picked up back-to-back doubles from Cole McConnell and Jorge Corona in the bottom of the first inning for the 1-0 lead. Adarius Myers followed with a two-out RBI single back through the middle to put the Bulldogs on top, 2-0.
 
ULM (13-12) struggled with command early on the mound, with Davis Oswalt (0-1) hitting three Bulldogs with a pitch in the second inning, and Beau Blanchard adding another later in the frame. LA Tech took advantage of the four free passes in the inning to pile up six runs, as McConnell and Corona hit consecutive 2-RBI singles and Michael Ballard added a 2-RBI double for the 8-0 lead.
 
The Warhawks showed some life in the top of the third inning, scoring four runs with two outs. Hasani Johnson hit a home run down the left field line to get ULM on the board, 8-1, before Shawn Dalton Weatherbee hit a 3-run homer moments later to cut the deficit in half, 8-4.
 
However, scoring for the day stopped there. LA Tech loaded the bases with one out in the fourth inning, but Aidan Haynes worked out of trouble with a strikeout and groundout. McConnell led off the sixth inning with a double, but Parker Seay stranded him on base.
 
ULM had its best scoring chance in the sixth inning, as Colby Lunsford walked and Weatherbee was hit by a pitch to put two runners on with no outs. However, a double play ball brought a quick end to the inning. Jack Clark hit a one-out double in the seventh but was stranded on third. ULM had its final scoring chance in the eighth inning, as Weatherbee singled and Jake Haggard walked with two outs, but Bryce Blaser grounded out on a checked swing, with the throw by LA Tech shortstop Kasten Furr barely beating Blaser to first base to end the inning.
 
Weatherbee led ULM with two hits and three RBIs. He was the only Warhawk with two hits as ULM posted six for the game. LA Tech was led by three hits and two RBIs by McConnell while Myers had three hits with an RBI and Corona had two hits and three RBIs. LA Tech pounded out 12 hits, had six batters hit by a pitch and walked twice, stranding 11 runners on base.
 
Jacob Havern (2-1) picked up the win for the Bulldogs, throwing 2 1/3 perfect innings with two strikeouts. LA Tech starting pitcher Connor Nation allowed four runs on four hits with one walk and one strikeout in 2 2/3 innings. The Bulldog bullpen combined to throw 6 1/3 shutout innings, allowing just two hits with two walks and six strikeouts.
 
Davis Oswalt (0-1) took the loss in the start for ULM, allowing seven runs on five hits with one strikeout in 1 1/3 innings. The Warhawk bullpen combined to throw 6 2/3 innings, allowing just one run on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts with Brandon Brewer, Haynes, Seay, Justin Robinson and Carson Orton all throwing at least one shutout inning.
 
ULM returns to Sun Belt Conference play at 6 p.m. Thursday when it opens a three-game series with No. 19 Coastal Carolina at Lou St. Amant Field.