RUSTON, La. — Casey Sutton pitched a three-hit shutout to lead Louisiana Tech to a 5-0 win over FIU Sunday afternoon at J.C. Love Field in Ruston, La.

With the win, the Bulldogs (20-12, 8-7 Conference USA) took two of three games from the Panthers (17-21, 5-10 C-USA). FIU scored just two runs in the three-game set in Ruston.

Halfway through the conference season FIU has won just one of five series played. The lone series win was against UTSA, who is tied with FIU for 10th place. The top eight teams make the Conference USA tournament in late May in Hattiesburg, Miss.

Sutton followed up the sterling effort from La. Tech right-hander Cameron Linck on Saturday when Linck struck out 10 batters in a 6-1 win. In just his second start of the season after nine relief appearances, Sutton notched his first career shutout.

Sutton allowed just three FIU hits and all three were singles. In the last seven games FIU has 62 hits and 55 of those hits were singles.

The Bulldogs broke a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning. Jonathan Washam led off with a double off FIU starter Alex Demchak (3-1) to right center. Chandler Hall brought Washam home with a double to right. Hall scored after an error and a wild pitch. 

Demchak went 4 1/3 innings, allowed three hits, two runs, one earned, walked two and struck out two batters.

La. Tech added three runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on a three-run home run by Chase Lunceford off of Williams Durruthy. That made it 5-0.

Eddie Silva had two hits for FIU. Kolby Follis had the only other hit.

On deck FIU hosts nationally-ranked Florida Atlantic in a three-game series at the FIU ballpark starting Friday, April 22. Friday's first pitch is at 6:30 p.m. and the game can be seen on PantherVision and heard on the FIU Sports Radio Network.