Blubaugh's Heroics Give Pilots Sweep Over Carey, 12th Straight Win
April 19, 2008
Shreveport, La. – LSUS (38-12, 24-9) completed their sweep of William Carey University (30-12, 19-13) in dramatic fashion on Saturday afternoon, as Andrew Blubaugh hit a walk-off, three-run triple with the bases loaded to give the Pilots a 10-9 victory in game two.
In game one, Craig Barnes doubled in two runs in the bottom of the first to give the Pilots an early 2-0 lead, and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeffrey Garidel.
Carey starter Josh Troxclair was knocked out in the top of the second after Quentin Shamsabady doubled in Andrew Blubaugh from first, as the Pilots took a 4-0 lead.
Greg Alexander hit a solo homerun for the Crusaders in the fourth, but a two-run shot by Shamsabady put the Pilots back in front, 6-1.
The Pilots stretched their lead to seven runs in the fifth on a two-run RBI double by pinch-hitter Jeff Ledet.
William Carey added three runs in the seventh, but it wasn’t enough as the Pilots held on for the 8-4 victory.
Shamsabady led the Pilots at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a homerun, double, and two singles. Shamsabady also drove in three runs and scored two in the Pilots win.
Juan Leon (4-1) went the distance on the mound, giving up seven hits and allowing four runs on the afternoon.
In the second game, William Carey jumped out to an early lead after scoring three runs in the top of the first on two hits. However, LSUS answered with four runs of their own in the bottom of the inning, including a two-run bomb off the bat of Barnes. The long ball was Barnes’ team-leading 12th homerun of the season.
Carey tied the game at 4-4 in the second on a RBI fielder’s choice by Pat Barnes.
Carey added single runs in the fourth and fifth innings, and a two-run sixth opened up their lead to 8-4 on RBI singles by Barnes and Alexander.
LSUS answered with two runs in the bottom half of the sixth to cut into the Carey lead, 8-6.
Each team scored a run in the eighth, and with the Pilots trailing 9-7 in the ninth, LSUS loaded the bases with no outs on back-to-back singles and a four-pitch walk before Blubaugh’s heroics ended the game.
Blubaugh finished with a pair of hits, including four RBIs in the Pilots 12th straight win of the season. Barnes also added two hits and two RBIs for the Pilots.
Blake Pinkston (5-1) pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his fifth win.
LSUS will be back in action at home on Tuesday when they face Northwood University in a doubleheader. Tuesday’s first pitch is scheduled for 4:00 PM.
