Ruston, LA – Contributed – Arkansas State (11-3, 0-0 SBC) benefited from consistent hitting up and down the lineup along with lockdown pitching out of the bullpen from Tyler Weimer and Cooper Garrison to complete the two-game sweep of Louisiana Tech (8-6, 0-0 CUSA) Wednesday evening at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.
The Red Wolves scored first, taking advantage on the basepath in the second inning. A pickoff attempt at first left the door open for Cason Campbell to steal home for the 1-0 lead, which was built upon the following inning.
Lane Walton led off the inning with a moon shot to right field to double the score, followed up later in the inning with an Evan Griffis double and an RBI single that scored him from Aidan Houseworth. A solo shot from La Tech in the bottom of the inning was the Bulldog answer.
The Red Wolf bats were red hot in the fourth inning with three straight singles to start the inning and chase off the Louisiana Tech starting pitcher, the final single scoring a run. The reliever found no relief of his own, allowing the fourth single in a row to score A-State’s fifth run, then immediately let up a bases-clearing triple from Evan Griffis for A-State to go up 7-1. The only response the home side could muster was another solo homer.
Starter Collin Maloney gave up five hits and one walk for two runs while striking out three batters in his 4.0 innings of work. Taking the mound behind him was Tyler Weimer, fresh off his first save of the season. Weimer commanded the next 4.1 innings to earn his first win of the season, only allowing one hit and one run in his time while sliding three Bulldogs the chair.
Patrick Engskov opened the final frame with a statement swing on the second pitch he saw, jogging around the bases for the 8-2 Red Wolf advantage. Defensively, Cooper Garrison entered to secure the 6-4-3 play, the second game in a row, the Red Wolves ended the game with a double play.
- Win: Tyler Weimer (1-0)
- Loss: Hudson Rowan (2-2)
A-State continues on the road to Tulsa, Okla. for the first road weekend series of the season against Oral Roberts, with game one scheduled for Friday, March 6 at 6 p.m.
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