March 11, 2013

LA Tech Game Notes

RUSTON, La. - After its first series victory of the season over Nebraska this past weekend, Louisiana Tech will hit the road for a two-game midweek series versus the Rice Owls beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at Reckling Park in Houston, Texas.

Tech (5-11) is coming off a weekend that saw them take two of three from the Cornhuskers at home and will look to continue their good form as of late against the Owls, while Rice (9-7) will come into the midweek series having won two of their last three after a 2-1 series win over Florida International in Miami, Fla. over the weekend.

The last time these two teams met resulted in a series sweep for the Owls in a three-game set played at Reckling Park in Houston in 2011, while the last time Tech came out on top against Rice dates back to 2005 when Tech took the first game of a three-game conference series at J.C. Love Field in Ruston by a score of 3-2. Rice has won the eight meetings against its former conference foe dating back to the 2005 season. Rice, a former conference opponent in the Western Athletic Conference, leads the all-time series 26-3 over Tech.

"Rice is always tough, and it is going to do nothing but help us," head coach Wade Simoneaux said. "Win or lose, we are going to go over there and compete hard and get ourselves ready to play another good opponent."

Left hander Ben Carlisle (0-1) is set to take the mound for the 'Dogs Tuesday night in what will mark his third start of the season. In his last start, the Shreveport native allowed just three hits in 4.1 innings pitched against Baylor, while giving up four runs - two earned - in the 4-2 loss on the road. The start will mark Carlisle's fifth appearance of 2013.

The Owls will send right hander John Simms (3-1) to the bump for Tuesday's contest. Simms has appeared in five games this season and struck out 22 batters he has faced, while posting a 1.08 earned run average on the year.

Tech continues to be led by first baseman Tyler Ervine, who has posted a team-leading .321 batting average in 15 games in 2013. Ervine leads the Bulldogs in hits (18), runs (11) and total bases (22), and has one home run this season.

Following its midweek contests, Tech will return home to begin a 12-game home stand, starting with a three-game series against the Lumberjacks of Stephen F. Austin. The se¬ries begins at 6 p.m. Friday and continues with 3 p.m. and 1 p.m. games on Saturday and Sunday at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park in Ruston.

Following Tuesday night's matchup, the two teams will meet again Wednesday in a game that is set for a 6 p.m. start time at Reckling Park in Houston.

Both midweek games against Rice will be broadcast on the LA Tech Sports Network on ESPN 97.7 FM with Josh McDaniel calling all the action from the booth.

For complete coverage of Bulldog Baseball, please follow @LATechBSB on Twitter or visit the official home of Louisiana Tech athletics at www.LATechSports.com.

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