RUSTON, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — The Louisiana Tech Bulldogs have their eyes set on the conference title.
The Diamond Dogs had that goal in mind when they played their final home game of the regular season at home against Western Kentucky on Sunday.
The Hilltoppers quickly took a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
After a scoreless sixth inning, La Tech responded with a solo home run by Ethan Bates to tie the game.
The Bulldogs’ offense exploded in the eighth inning, starting with Cole McConnell’s two-RBI single.
Moments later, Bates reached on a fielder’s choice, extending Tech’s lead to 4-1. Jorge Corona, Michael Ballard and Adarius Meyers each had an RBI, helping the Bulldogs score six runs in just eight innings.
The Diamond Dogs held off WKU and won Game 3, 7-1, clinching the series against the Hilltoppers.
Winning pitcher Sam Broderson was a weapon for the Bulldogs on the mound.
“From day one, you could tell that guy was different,” Latek head coach Lane Burrows said. “What I mean is the way he lives and works. He’s always here. This is like a second home for Sam Broderson.”
The senior pitched 3.1 innings with five strikeouts, two walks and one hit. Broderson is 6-1 so far this season.
“He throws with an edge,” added Coach Burroughs. “He has a lot of confidence. He honestly doesn’t know where we would be without him right now.”
Sunday was also Senior Day for the Bulldogs. Coach Burrows feels this senior group is special because of his experience at Ruston.
“This senior class came in at a time when we didn’t have the field,” Coach Burroughs recalled. “They came in during the coronavirus and all that. They had to endure and they stayed with us. Now we’re on the brink of being conference champions. .”
“We’ve been here the last five years working hard and playing together,” explained senior Jorge Corona. “If any of us had left, we probably all would have left, but we all made a commitment to stay here and do something special that has never been done before. We’re on the right track and that’s great.”
Latek is scheduled to return to the field on Thursday, May 16, when he travels to Liberty for the final regular season series.The first pitch for the first game will be at 5 p.m.
