RUSTON, La. - Louisiana Tech scored runs in five of the first six innings Saturday and held off a late charge by the Spartans, as the Bulldogs defeated San Jose State 10-5 in game two of a Western Athletic Conference series at J.C. Love Field.

Taylor Terrasas led off the bottom of the first with a solo homerun to left field to give the Bulldogs (22-23, 5-9 WAC) early momentum and an early 1-0 lead. Louisiana Tech scored at least one run in each of the game's first four innings, running out to a 5-1 advantage.

Bre'Shon Kimbell's three-run homerun to center field with one out in the bottom of the eighth sealed Louisiana Tech's victory, pushing a two-run advantage to a five-run lead at 10-5 with only one turn at-bat left to go for the Spartans (21-21, 5-6 WAC).

Kimbell went 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a homerun in the game, and Terrasas was a perfect 3-for-3 with three runs scored and two RBIs from the leadoff spot for Louisiana Tech. Eight of the Bulldogs' nine starters got at least one hit and eight starters scored at least once.

SPARTANS RALLY LATE

San Jose State rallied for three runs in the top of the eighth inning, all with two outs, to pull within one run at 6-5. Caleb Natov hit a two-out single and pinch hitter Anthony Bona reached on a hit-by-pitch. Zack Jones then chopped a single over Terrasas' head at third base to bring home Natov and Tim Quiery followed with a two-run double to the right-center field gap, scoring Bona and Jones to make the score 6-5.

Quiery finished with a 2-for-4 day and three RBIs. Michael Gerlach extended his hitting streak to five games by going 1-for-4 with a run scored and an RBI. Gerlach has now hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games. He has also driven in runs in three of his last four games.

San Jose State got two more runners on base in the ninth inning with two outs, making the tying run the batter in the hole for the Spartans. Bona would fly out to center field though, ending the game.

Louisiana Tech got another seven-inning performance out of their starter Saturday. This time it was Phil Maton (7-4), who allowed two runs, one earned, while scattering six hits and walking none with five strikeouts in the victory.

San Jose State starter Esteban Guzman (1-2) lost his second consecutive start by giving up five runs, four earned, on four hits and three walks in three innings pitched.

The Spartans had runners on with less than two outs in each of the first five innings Saturday but did not get their first run of the game until the fourth. Gerlach and Natov both reached to lead off the frame on a hit-by-pitch and an error, respectively. After two strikeouts, Quiery singled through the right side to bring in Gerlach and make the score 3-1.

San Jose State scored its second run in the fifth inning after a one-out double by Andre Mercurio. Mercurio moved to third on a groundout and would score on a two-out RBI single by Gerlach.

LOUISIANA TECH TAKES ADVANTAGE OF SCORING CHANCES

Louisiana Tech loaded the bases with no outs in the second inning on a four-pitch walk and back-to-back singles. Kody Neel brought in a run on a fielder's choice to make it 2-0 Bulldogs, but the Spartans escaped further damage when Guzman got Justin Gordey to ground into a double play to end the inning.

The Bulldogs again loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth thanks to two leadoff walks, which chased Guzman, and an infield single. Spartans reliever Kyle Hassna came in and limited the Bulldogs to two runs on a sacrifice fly and RBI single as he kept the score at 5-1 Louisiana Tech through four.

Louisiana Tech also got single runs in the third and sixth innings, both after two outs had been recorded. A throwing error by Natov at third base in the third inning allowed Terrasas to score from second, pushing the Bulldogs' lead to 3-0. A two-out RBI single by Kimbell in the sixth also scored Terrasas, making it 6-2.

The series concludes Sunday with game three scheduled for a 1 p.m. CT start time.

Louisiana Tech 10, San Jose State 5 (May 05, 2012 at Ruston, La.)
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San Jose State...... 000 110 030  -  5 10  1      (21-21, 5-6 WAC)
Louisiana Tech...... 111 201 04X  - 10 12  1      (22-23, 5-9 WAC)
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Pitchers: San Jose State - Guzman, Esteban; Hassna, Kyle(4); Slaton, D.J.(7) and DiRocco, Michael; Gallegos, Kyle(8).
Louisiana Tech - Maton; Ferguson(8); Dudley(8) and Arnsberg.
Win-Maton (7-4)  Save-Dudley (8)  Loss-Guzman, Esteban (1-2)  T-2:48  A-870
HR LATECH - Terrasas (2); Kimbell (5).
Weather: High 80s, Partly Cloudy