Louisiana Tech (18-10, 5-4) will host UTSA (13-16, 5-4) in a crucial Conference USA series this weekend. The Bulldogs and Roadrunners are tied for fifth place through the first three weekends of conference play.

Series Info:

Game Times: Friday (Game One) 3 p.m., Friday (Game Two) 6:30 p.m., and Saturday 2 p.m.

Where: J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park

TV: CUSA.tv (subscription required)

Radio: KNBB 97.7FM

Tech’s Starting Pitchers:

Friday (Game One): RHP Matt Miller (3-0, 4.21 ERA, 36.1 IP, 31 hits allowed, 16 BB, and 42 K)

Friday (Game Two): LHP Logan Robbins (2-2, 6.89 ERA, 31.1 IP, 43 hits allowed, 15 BB, and 29 K)

Saturday: LHP Logan Bailey (3-3, 7.13 ERA, 35.1 IP, 50 hits allowed, 16 BB, and 34 K)

Miller Time:

It’s no secret that Louisiana Tech’s pitching staff got off to a slow start in 2019, but recently Matt Miller has stabilized things at the front of the rotation. The senior has thrown 14.1 innings over his last 2 starts while allowing only 3 earned runs good for a 1.88 ERA. Miller has also walked 3 and struck out 15 in that time frame. Having a dominant Friday night starter is a key for any great team, is Miller proving to be that guy for the Bulldogs?

Scouting the Roadrunners:

Jason Marshall brings his UTSA squad to Ruston this weekend with plenty of confidence. The Roadrunners picked up a big series victory last weekend against a quality Southern Miss team. While the Roadrunners are only 13-16 overall, they will present quite the challenge for Louisiana Tech this weekend.

Pitching Probables:

Friday (Game One): RHP Karan Patel (2-3, 2.00 ERA, 45 IP, 38 hits allowed, 12 BB, and 46 K)

Friday (Game Two): RHP Slater Foust (4-1, 1.82 ERA, 39.2 IP, 34 hits allowed, 12 BB, and 24 K)

Saturday: TBA

Key Relievers:

RHP Hunter Mason (1-1, 5.46 ERA, 28 IP, 30 hits allowed, 11 BB, and 25 K)

RHP Shane Daughety (1-1, 7.40 ERA, 24.1 IP, 28 hits allowed, 12 BB, and 18 K)

Arias Continues Stellar Career:

Brian Arias was selected as a preseason All-American in 2019 after hitting .335 with 8 home runs and 35 RBI in 2018. The right-handed hitting third-baseman has backed up that 2018 campaign by hitting .314 with 1 home run in 13 RBI at the midway point in 2019. If there is one player that can carry an offense of the course of a weekend, it’s Arias. Keep an eye on the Roadrunners stud this weekend.

Statistical Comparison (Tech | UTSA):

Batting Average: .286 | .280

Slugging Percentage: .440 | .406

On-Base Percentage: .374 | .372

Home Runs: 28 | 13

Runs per Game: 7.0 | 6.0

ERA: 4.77 | 5.27

WHIP: 1.48 | 1.46

Strikeout to Walk Ratio: 2.30 | 1.89

Fielding Percentage: .971 | .966

SB per Game: 1.3 | 1.3

Louisiana Tech won two of three games against the Roadrunners a season ago in San Antonio.

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