No. 21 LSUS Defeats No. 6 Mobile
April 25, 2008
Shreveport, La. – The No. 21 LSUS Pilots rallied for four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to knock off No. 6 Mobile Rams and pick up their 40th win of the season, 12-9, on Friday night at Pilot Field.
LSUS opened up the game’s scoring when Craig Barnes led off the bottom of the second with a double to the left-centerfield wall, and scored two batters later on a RBI single by Andrew Blubaugh.
Mobile answered with two runs in the third on three consecutive one-out singles to take a 2-1 lead. However, LSUS evened the game at 2-2 in the bottom of the inning on a two-out RBI double by Jeff Ledet.
Barnes gave the Pilots a two-run lead on his 13th home run of the season in the fifth.
The LSUS lead didn’t last long, as the Rams stuck for three runs in the top of the sixth to take a 5-4 advantage. Daine Solomon doubled in a run and scored on a base hit by David Cramblitt to tie the game. Cramblitt then stole second with two outs and scored on a single to right by Nelson Curry.
The Pilots loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the sixth and tied the game at five on a bases loaded walk to Barnes. LSUS regained the lead on a sacrifice fly by Bryan Stebbings and Blubaugh’s second RBI single of the night put the Pilots in front, 7-5. LSUS added another run in the sixth on a wild pitch by Mobile reliever Derek Bourgeois, taking a three-run lead after six.
After giving up four the in bottom of the sixth, the Mobile offense responded with four runs of their own in the seventh. Jared Baria led off the inning with a solo homerun, and following a 30-minute lightening delay, Carlos Romero hit a three-run shot to give the Rams a 9-8 lead.
Gino Spratley pitched a scoreless eighth inning to keep the Pilots within one run, and the home team once again tied the game on a bases loaded walk to Blubaugh in the bottom of the inning.
With two outs, the bases still loaded and the game tied at 9-9, pinch-hitter Brandon Bravata delivered a game-winning, two-run single into right field. Bravata advanced to second on the throw and Blubaugh also scored on a wild throw by the Mobile right fielder, giving the Pilots a 12-9 lead heading into the ninth.
Spratley (7-1) shut down the Rams again in the ninth to pick up his seventh win of the season. Spratley pitched three scoreless innings, while allowing just one hit.
Barnes led the Pilots at the plate with a home run, double and three RBIs. Blubaugh also added three hits in the win, while Ledet doubled twice and drove in a run.
LSUS (40-13) and Mobile (39-11) will play again tomorrow in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM.
