RUSTON, La. (Interstat) — A disastrous first inning for the Arkansas-Little Rock pitching staff set the tone Tuesday evening, as the Louisiana Tech Bulldogs capitalized on early control issues and later broke the game open to defeat the Trojans 9-3 at J.C. Love Field at Pat Patterson Park.

The most critical juncture of the game came immediately, as the Bulldogs erased a three-run deficit before recording an out in the bottom of the first. Arkansas-Little Rock starter Busick failed to record an out, walking the bases loaded before issuing another free pass to Kade Scott to force in the first run. Reliever Brayden Walls entered but could not stem the tide, surrendering a two-run single to Casey McCoy and an RBI single to Will Patterson. When the inning finally ended, Louisiana Tech had sent nine men to the plate, scoring four runs on just two hits, aided by four walks.

The Trojans, who fell to 20-17, had jumped ahead in the top of the first, scoring three runs on a sequence that included a single by Lopez. But the early offensive burst was quickly negated.

Angel Cano provided nearly all of the offense for Arkansas-Little Rock, launching two solo home runs, in the second and sixth innings, to finish 3 for 4 with two RBIs. His performance kept the Trojans within a run for much of the contest. The final Trojans run came in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Martin.

Louisiana Tech, improving to 22-16, maintained its one-run lead until breaking the game open with a four-run sixth inning. After a single and a hit batter, a sacrifice fly by Cole Menuet brought home one run. Ethan Lunsford then delivered the decisive blow, a two-run double to right-center field. Hawsey followed with an RBI infield single, capping the rally and extending the Bulldogs’ lead to 8-3. McCoy, who started in left field and later moved to second base, was a constant threat for Louisiana Tech, going a perfect 3 for 3 with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base.

The Bulldogs added an insurance run in the seventh on another RBI single from Patterson, who drove in McCoy.

While the Louisiana Tech bullpen navigated traffic, five relievers combined to allow just one run over the final six innings after starter Drew Ferguson was pulled in the third. Blake Hooks, Joey Wittig and others kept the Trojan offense in check outside of Cano’s efforts. For Arkansas-Little Rock, relievers Walls, Josh Beezley, Luke Schimmels and Hunter Royal provided effective scoreless outings, but the damage from the first and sixth innings proved insurmountable.

The result defied the pregame projection from Interstat, which had simulated a 6-5 Louisiana Tech victory and gave the Bulldogs a 68.9% probability to win.

Arkansas-Little Rock looks to rebound Friday when it opens a three-game home series against Eastern Illinois. Louisiana Tech heads on the road to begin a series at Kennesaw State on Friday.