No. 23 Pilots Knock Off No. 17 Rams
April 13, 2008
Fort Worth, Texas - The No. 23 LSUS Pilots (34-12) picked up a pair of non-conference victories on Sunday afternoon, upsetting the No. 17 Texas Wesleyan Rams (29-10), 9-5 and 13-3.
In game one, LSUS starter Victor Hernandez (9-1) picked up his team-leading ninth win of the season and freshman Gino Spratley earned the first save of his career, as the Pilots held on for a 9-5 victory.
Trailing 3-1 after two innings of play, the Pilots offense exploded for five runs in the top of the third. Bryan Stebbings singled in two runs for the visitors, while freshman Matt Mosely hit a two-run double giving the Pilots a 6-1 lead.
The Pilots tacked on three much-needed insurance runs on three consecutive RBI singles in the top of the seventh. The Rams scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning, but Spratley came in and shut the door on any chance of a comeback.
Stebbings finished game one 2-for-4 with 3 RBIs, while Josh Todd added a solo homerun in the Pilots win.
In game two, the Pilots offense picked up right where they left off in game one. LSUS scored 13 runs on 16 hits, as the easily defeated the No. 25 Rams, 13-3 in six innings.
Quenton Shamsabady doubled and scored in the first, while Andrew Brouillette and Craig Barnes each added RBI singles in the inning, as the Pilots jumped out to an early two-run lead.
In the top of the third, Brandon Bravata smashed a two-out, two-run triple off the left field wall, giving the Pilots a 4-2 lead. The Pilots added another run in the third after Jeffrey Garidel singled on the very next pitch, scoring Bravata from third.
Leading 5-3 after three innings of action, the Pilots opened the game up with five runs in the fourth inning, capped off by a three-run homer by Barnes (11).
Todd (7) homered for the second time on the day, as the Pilots took an 11-3 lead after five.
LSUS added two more runs in the top of the sixth on a RBI double off the bat of Barnes, and a RBI single by Bravata.
Juan Leon (3-1) held the Rams scoreless over the last three innings, earning his third win of the season and the complete game victory for the Pilots.
LSUS will be back in action tomorrow afternoon versus the Louisiana College Wildcats. The Pilots defeated the Wildcats, 17-2, earlier this season. Monday's first pitch is scheduled for 11:00 AM at Bringhurst Field in Alexandria.
