La. Tech visits Old Dominion

NORFOLK, Va. – Louisiana Tech will hit the road for the second consecutive weekend in Conference USA action, as the Diamond ‘Dogs visit red-hot Old Dominion for a three-game set this weekend.

The series kicks off on Friday afternoon at 5 p.m. Central at Bud Metheny Complex in Norfolk and will be nationally-broadcast on ESPN3. Saturday’s game is slated for 2 p.m. CT, with Easter Sunday’s game set for 12 p.m. CT.

It will be a tall-test for the Bulldogs, as Old Dominion currently sits at second in the Conference USA standings with a 9-3 record on the season. The Bulldogs are coming off of their first series victory of the season in C-USA action, after Louisiana Tech took two of three from Rice last weekend down in Houston.

So far on the season, the Monarchs have taken two of three from both UTSA and Charlotte, while Old Dominion also swept Rice in a three-game series at home.

Last time out, Old Dominion took down William and Mary by a score of 6-3 on Tuesday night. The Bulldogs were halted by rain down the road in Monroe in the top of the fifth inning with Louisiana Tech leading ULM 4-1. If the two schools can agree on a rescheduling date, the game would resume from the point where it was halted in the top of the fifth.

On Friday night, head coach Lane Burroughs will call on right-hander Casey Sutton to take the mound. Sutton will be making his ninth start of the season and currently holds a 4-2 record. The senior helped lead Louisiana Tech to a win on the road last Friday night against Rice.

For Old Dominion, it will be senior right-hander Sam Sinnen who has a 1-1- record on the year. Sinnen has logged 45 innings for the Monarchs this season and has an ERA of 4.60.

Sean Ullrich has been on fire in Conference USA-action this season, batting a team-high .432 in conference games. Raphael Gladu, Marshall Boggs and Brent Diaz are also all batting above .300 in conference games. Boggs currently leads Conference USA in RBIs this year with 36.

The Bulldogs will have to be wary of reigning Conference USA Hitter of the Week and National Hitter of the Week, Jared Young who blasted five home runs last week alone. Young is batting over .450 in conference games. Zach Rutherford, Cory Alexander II and Vinnie Pasquantino are all hitting above .340 in C-USA action.