No. 10 Pilots Upset No. 6 Bellevue, Become First NAIA Team to Reach 20 Wins
March 01, 2009
Shreveport, La. – Sophomore Justin Ennis pitched a complete game and was aided with two big innings by the LSUS offense, as the No. 10 Pilots knocked off No. 6 Bellevue 8-6 on Sunday afternoon at Pilot Field.
The Bruins, playing in their first contest of the season, came out of the gates on fire and put up four runs in the first inning. After the Pilots gave the Bruins two extra outs on a throwing error and a misplayed fly ball, Drew Farley connected on a two-run shot over the right field fence to give the visitors an early 4-0 lead.
LSUS tied the game in the bottom of the second with four runs of their own. Brent Lavallee doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on a triple off the bat of Chase Wentz who also scored on the play after a Bruin throwing error allowed him to advance home.
Following back-to-back singles by Bubba Jordan and David Bradley, Andrew Blubaugh walked to load the bases. Brandon Bravata was then hit by a pitch for the 18th time this season, allowing Jordan to score from third. Quinton Shamsabady then delivered a single to left to score Bradley for the fourth Pilot run of the inning.
Bellevue tacked on single runs in the third and fourth innings to move back ahead 6-4, but the Pilots responded with another big inning in the bottom half of the fourth. LSUS loaded the bases with no outs as the first three batters reached base safely, and then Andrew Brouillette delivered once again with an RBI single.
Lavallee was hit by the next pitch to score the second run of the inning, and Jeffrey Garidel followed him up with a sacrifice fly to right. Chase Wentz then picked up his second hit and RBI of the game to drive in the Pilots final run of the inning and the game.
After struggling to get through the first four innings, Ennis put the Pilots on his shoulders and took over the game on the mound. He allowed no runs and just two hits over the final five frames to finish off the upset over the No. 6 Bruins.
Wentz had two hits and two RBIs to lead the home team, while Bravata and Lavallee each finished 2-for-3 with an RBI in the win.
Jake Jadlowski went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored to pace the visitors. Matty Johnson and Louie Templeton also had multiple hits for the Bruins, each finishing with two apiece.
LSUS (20-3, 14-1) is off to one of the best starts in the program’s history, and became the first team in the NAIA this season to reach with 20-win plateau with a victory on Sunday. The Pilots will look to improve on their overall and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference record this upcoming weekend as the Spring Hill Badgers make a visit to Pilot Field.
