RUSTON, LA – Tanner Huddleston hit a pair of three-run home runs to lead Louisiana Tech past FIU, 7-6, Friday night at Patterson Park in Ruston, Louisiana.

With the win the Bulldogs (21-8, 6-2 Conference USA) evened the series with the Panthers (13-15, 4-4 C-USA). The rubber game is Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. EDT.

FIU had a 1-0 lead in the fourth inning before Huddleston hit the first of his two home runs. The Bulldogs scored four runs off starter Logan Allen (4-2) in the bottom of the fourth to grab a 4-1 advantage.

The Panthers closed within a run in the top of the fifth when Eddie Silva drilled a two-run home run down the right field line. Michael Harkcom, who singled earlier in the inning, scored ahead of Silva.

Huddleston extended the LA Tech lead in the seventh with his second home run of the night to give him six RBI.

The Panthers closed the gap to 7-6 in the eighth thanks to a pair of RBI singles from Adan Fernandez and Will Saxton. Two Bulldog errors also helped plate an FIU run. Christian Khawam, who reached on an error by second baseman Hunter Wells, scored from second base when center fielder Parker Bates threw the ball from Fernandez's single over LA Tech's third base dugout.

However at 7-6, was as close as FIU came.

Silva, Austin Shenton and Saxton each had two hits. The home run for Silva was his second of the series and sixth on the season.