Diamond Dogs cruise in round one with offensive flurry

Ruston, La. (KTVE/KARD) — The Conference USA Championships got off the ground without a hitch until a weather delay hit the town, but not before a full crowd at the “Love Shack” got to witness the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs keep their foot on the gas against the Middle Tennessee Blue Raiders.

The number one seeded Bulldogs faced off against the number eight seeded Blue Raiders in the first round of the tournament, and the Bulldogs got off to fast start with a quick set of outs and followed up with a three-run inning. The Blue Raiders soon found an answer in the second inning with a solo Homer, but in the bottom of the fourth the Bulldogs stretched their lead with three more runs with the help of a run bomb out of right field from Cole McConnell.

Conference USA Player of the Year Ethan Bates a few innings later drill in the final runs of the game off a two rbi single in the bottom of the seventh.

The game came to a halt right before the top of the ninth with the Bulldogs leading 8-2 due to a lightning delay. Once the game was started back up early Thursday morning the Bulldogs secured the victory in less in than five minutes to move to the second round.

The Bulldogs will face Liberty on Friday at 12:30 p.m.