A five-run fourth inning put the University of Nevada ahead for good on its way to a 7-5 Western Athletic Conference win against Louisiana Tech on Friday night in Ruston, La.
The Wolf Pack only managed two hits in the fourth, but both were critical. Baker Krukow's RBI single tied the score 2-2 and Dayton's Matt Bowman drove home the go-ahead run with a sacrifice bunt to ignite the fourth inning rally. Bowman reached base safely when his bunt was misplayed for an error and later scored on Eric Newman's two-run single as Nevada (14-10 overall, 3-2 WAC) posted its second straight win in the three-game series, which concludes today at J.C. Love Field.
Shawn Scobee also hit solo home runs in the second and eighth innings for the Wolf Pack. Scobee now has five home runs on the season.
Ryan Rodriguez pitched 6.2 innings, allowed five runs (three earned) on nine hits, but rang up 10 strikeouts on just one walk to pick up a win that improved his season record to 6-2.
Wesley Dorsett came out of the bullpen to work the final 2.1 innings for his WAC-leading fifth save of the season. Dorsett came on with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh and got out of the jam on an infield fly. Dorsett loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but got a swinging strike-three to escape without giving up a run once again.
Newman hit 2-for-4 and Scobee 2-for-3 to lead Nevada's eight-hit offense. Louisiana Tech (11-19, 3-5) finished with 12 hits, led by Ryan Hamilton's 3-for-5, including a two-run home run that gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead. Freshman Ryan Rike also went 3-for-5 and hit his first career home run, a two-run shot that cut Nevada's lead to 6-4 in the fourth.
Bowman, who started in left field, went 0-for-2 with one RBI and one run scored.
The two teams conclude their series with an 11 a.m. game today.