Pilots complete season sweep of LSUA
April 06, 2011
ALEXANDRIA, La. - The no. 6 LSU Shreveport Pilots baseball team completed their season sweep of the LSU Alexandria Generals on Tuesday evening winning both games of a double header 9-7 and 12-2 in five innings.
GAME 1, W 9-7
The Pilots had to hold off the Generals as they made a charge at the end with three runs in the seventh inning off five hits but Ben Suit came in to slam the door on the rally.
LSUS starter Cole Newell (4-2) threw five and 1/3 innings allowing seven runs on 13 hits while striking out three batters and only walking one as he earned the win. Suit picked up his first save of the year. James Ott (1-2) suffered the loss for LSUA as he allowed seven runs on nine hits.
The Generals were free swingers at the plate all day long but the Pilots turned two double plays to help off set the blooper singles.
The Pilots scored two runs in the first inning as Kyle Pearson got an infield hit and then advanced to second on a wild throw from LSUA's short stop to score Andrew Brouillette who got the game's first hit. Pearson scored two batters later after an RBI-double from Curtis Beaudoin to give the visitor's an early 2-0 lead.
LSUS tacked on three more for a 5-0 lead after their second at bat as Ridge Gonsoulin got things started with a single and then scored on Manny Estrada's double to left. Chase Wentz brought in Estrada with a single to left and then he scored on an RBI-single from Pearson.
LSUA posted a three-run rally of their own in the bottom of the second to trim the LSUS' lead back to two, 5-3. Derek Goyne drove in two with a single and then Chase Barrett knocked in one with a single.
The Pilots added single runs in the third and fourth innings as both came in on a sacrifice fly. Wentz and Beaudoin each drove in their second runs of the game as the Pilots extended their lead to 7-4 after six complete innings of play.
LSUS got some much needed insurance runs in the top of the seventh thanks to a solo homer from Shawn Moy and a RBI-single from Manny Estrada who recorded his fourth hit of the game.
The Generals mounted a comeback in the seventh as three of their first four batters got hits before the Pilots recorded two outs. The lineup produced two more hits and forced the Pilots to go to the bullpen for Suit who struck out the final batter of the game who represented the winning run.
Wentz was one for three with two RBIs while Beaudoin drove in a pair of runners after a one for two day at the dish with a double. Pearson was two for four with a RBI while Estrada was a perfect four for four with two RBIs and a triple.
GAME 2, W 12-2 (5 Innings)
The Pilots left nothing to be desired in the final game of the double dip as they scored four runs in the first inning to take a commanding lead. Michael Diffie led off the game with a double as he got the only hit of the inning but the Pilots drew two walks and a hit by pitch and took advantage of two balks and a wild pitch from LSUA starting pitcher Jake Bell.
LSUA scored once in the bottom of the first as a run came in on a single from Chase Barrett. The Generals tried to get a second runner home on the play but the Pilots center fielder Chase Wentz sent a missile to home plate to nail the runner out trying to score to end the inning.
The home team would cut into the Pilot lead again with one run in the third inning after another RBI-single from Barrett to make it a 4-2 ballgame at the end of three.
LSUS erupted for seven runs in the top of the fourth to put the game out of reach. Allen Degges led the inning off with a triple to center and scored on a sac fly from Diffie. Wentz then followed with a solo home run to left field to extend the lead to 6-2. Three walks later led to a RBI-single from Beaudoin and then a three-run homer from Cody Causey to give the Pilots an 11-2 advantage after four.
Brouillette hit a solo home run to lead off the fifth inning and it was enough for the Pilots to enforce the run-rule after Drew Middleton fanned the final two batters of the game.
Middleton (4-1) picked up the complete game with for the Pilots after five strong innings where he only allowed two runs and scattered 10 hits. He did not walk a batter and struck out five. Bell (1-4) took the loss for LSUA after allowing nine runs.
Diffie was one for one with a double and a RBI while Wentz had a homer, scored two runs, and was one for one at the plate. Brouillette was one for two with a RBI and a homer while Beaudoin was two for four with a RBI. Causey was two for three with five RBIs and a long ball and Degges was one for two with a triple.
LSUS improves to 32-10 overall and LSUA falls to 8-27. The Pilots look to improved upon their 20-1 RRAC record this weekend as they host the Bulldogs from Jarvis Christian (6-20, 6-15 RRAC). The three-game series begins on Friday night at 6:00 p.m. while the double header on Saturday is set for 1:00 p.m. Saturday will be Senior Day at Pilot Field with the seniors being honored in a ceremony before the first game of the double header. Fans are encouraged to get to the ballpark early for the ceremony and the field will be accessible for photos of the event.
