Commodores Upset as Freshman Leads Tech Past Vanderbilt, 9-3
By: Brandon Dunn
Updated: August 10, 2012
RUSTON, La. - Freshman Phil Maton pitched 7.0 innings of five-hit baseball as Tech upset 2011 NCAA World Series participant Vanderbilt, 9-3, Wednesday afternoon at Hawkins Field in Nashville, Tenn.
Ryan Gebhardt and Tyler Qualls also set career-highs in hits and RBI and Gebhardt went 4-for-5 with three runs batted in and Qualls went 3-for-5 with two RBI to lead the Bulldogs (7-3) past the Commodores (1-7).
Louisiana Tech got off to a fast start as designated hitter Taylor Terrasas drew a leadoff walk and advanced to second base on a single by first baseman Alex Williams.
Cleanup hitter Bre'shon Kimbell moved both runners into scoring position after a ground out for the second out of the inning. Second baseman Austin Hedges walked to bring up the catcher, Qualls.
Qualls hit a seeing-eyed single to drive in the first two runs of the game and advancing Hedges to third base as the Bulldogs took a 2-0 lead.
Qualls then attempted to steal second base and was tagged out but not before Hedges scored on the run down, giving LA Tech a 3-1 advantage.
Vanderbilt scored one run in the bottom of the inning to cut its deficit to two, 3-1.
The Bulldogs added two runs in the top of the second as Gandy and Terrasas scored on RBI singles by Gebhardt and Williams, respectively, giving the Bulldogs a 5-1 lead.
The Commodores scored two in the bottom of the sixth on a two-run home run by Mike Yastrzemski.
LA Tech scored four runs in the final three innings as a run scored on hit-by-pitch in the seventh. Gebhardt drove in Beau Bayliss and Sam Alvis on a single as Tech took an 8-3 lead.
Taylor Burch hit a line drive home run over the "green monster" in left field to give Tech a 9-3 advantage.
Dudley pitched a scoreless as Maton recorded his second win of the season as the Bulldogs upset Vanderbilt, 9-3.
Freshman Brian Miller took the loss for the Commodores as he fell to 0-2 on the season.
Louisiana Tech returns to action Friday evening at Middle Tennessee. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. in Murfreesboro, Tenn.
