Louisiana Tech’s baseball team saw its eight-game winning streak end on April 18, as the Bulldogs lost a close contest to Kennesaw State, 6-5, at Mickey Dunn Stadium in Kennesaw. The game featured seven lead changes and three tie scores before the Owls secured the win.
The loss marks Louisiana Tech’s second defeat against Kennesaw State this season, bringing their record against the Owls to 4-2. The Bulldogs had previously been undefeated when outhitting their opponents but recorded their first such loss after tallying ten hits compared to eight by KSU.
Matt Houston led Louisiana Tech offensively with his sixth home run of the season and two doubles. Colby Lunsford also contributed with a two-run homer—his tenth of the year—tying teammate Trey Hawsey for most on the team. Hawsey added his seventh three-hit game of the year, tying Colton Coates for most career multi-hit games among active players.
Head Coach Lane Burroughs said, “In the eighth, we minimized the inning and only allowed the one run, and you’re feeling good when the top of your lineup is due up to start the ninth. I thought their guys played hard, and we just didn’t execute on a couple of pitches and they drove them out of the ballpark. We couldn’t keep them in the yard on a couple of swings today, and credit to them. They put good swings on those pitches that we didn’t execute.” He continued: “I thought the defense was sloppy early on. It really cost us. The two runs early on where we should’ve made the play came back to bite us, but that happens. I thought the guys got after it and played hard. I didn’t feel there was any lack of competing and I felt good about it all day. We kept chipping away and coming back.” Burroughs also noted areas for improvement: “One thing to point out, I think our bats have to get better. Especially with runners on…some guys are first-pitch swinging and hitting the pitcher’s pitch, and we need to do a better job of extending at-bats in those situations.”
The series will be decided Sunday afternoon at Mickey Dunn Stadium.
