Pilots continue winning ways with 17-11 victory over Warhawks
April 12, 2007
Monroe, LA---The No. 28 LSUS Pilots (31-9) added another quality win to their 2007 resume Wednesday night after scoring a season high 17 runs against the NCAA Division I opponent University of Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks (21-13). Wednesday’s 17-11 win marked the 7th consecutive victory for the Pilots who are 10-1 over their last 11 outings.
In the top of the 1st inning, David McGhee drew a leadoff walk from ULM starter Daniel Roberts (0-2). The Pilots followed with a hit and run single to right field which advanced McGhee to third base with no outs. Bryan Stebbings followed with a line drive out to first baseman Bo Bowman who doubled off Moro at first base. Roberts escaped the inning after Bryan Cooksey belted a line drive out to shortstop Ben Soigner.
The Pilots sent junior right hander Marc Dainty (2-3) to the mound to square off against the Warhawks who currently sit half a game out of first place in the Sun Belt Conference behind the University of Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns. The Ontario, Canada native was in trouble early after walking Andy Jones and Soigner to begin the bottom of the 1st.
Dainty struck out Bowman for the first out but saw both base runners advance on a stolen base. ULM squandered the early scoring opportunity after Dexter Fontenot struck out and Kyle Suier flew out to left field ending the inning.
After a scoreless 2nd inning, the Pilots erupted for seven runs in the top of the 3rd. A one out walk to McGhee was followed by Moro’s second single in as many at bats. Stebbings drew a walk to load the bases which was followed by an RBI fielder’s choice from Chris Frye who reached first after a throwing error from third baseman Travis Drader.
Roberts night ended after hitting Cooksey with the bases loaded which gave the Pilots a 2-0 lead. Reliever DJ Fortenberry surrendered bases loaded singles to Brandon Magierowski and Andrew Blubaugh before inducing a ground out from McGhee ending the Pilots seven run rally.
The Warhawks responded with four runs of their own in the bottom of the 3rd after combining four hits and two walks including an RBI double to right-center field by Suire. Ty Rollinson added a two out single to right field but Moro collected his LSUS record 8th outfield assist by throwing out Morrison at the plate to end the inning with the Pilots leading 7-4.
ULM added a solo run in the 4th after Bowman belted a homerun to right field cutting the lead to 7-5, but the Pilots offense responded once again after a leadoff double down the left field line was from Cooksey was followed by an RBI single to center field from Lavallee accounting for the Pilots solo run in the 5th.
LSUS added four more runs in the 6th inning which was highlighted by Frye’s team leading 7th homerun of the year deep over the left field fence. Frye added an RBI double in the 7th inning stretching the Pilots lead to 13-5.
Pilots reliever Paul Marlow took over for Dainty in the bottom of the 7th inning and surrendered five ULM runs on four hits and three walks before Daniel Welch induced a bases loaded fly out from Bowman to end the inning.
ULM had cut the lead to 13-10 but the Warhawks bullpen however could not find the answer to the Pilots offense as LSUS added two more runs in the 8th after Magierowski belted a two run homerun off Devin Porciau increasing the lead to 15-10.
The Warhawks plated a run in the 8th but the Pilots responded with two more in the 9th after Cooksey delivered a two RBI single to center field giving the Pilots a 17-11 lead.
Matt Clayman tossed a scoreless bottom of the 9th putting the end to Wednesday’s slugfest which featured 28 runs and 27 hits.
Roberts suffered the loss for ULM after allowing five runs on three hits and four walks in 2.1 innings pitched. Bowman led the Warhawks offense finishing 2-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI. Rollinson, Suire, and Josh Morrison each added two hits a piece and combined for four RBI and three runs scored.
Dainty collected his second win of the season after allowing five runs on six hits and four walks. Five Pilots hitters posted multi-hit games; Frye finished 3-for-5 which included two doubles, a homerun, three runs scored and three RBI; Magierowski finished 3-for-5 with a homerun, two runs scored and four RBI; Moro added a 3-for-6 performance while teammates Stebbings and Quenton Shamsabady added two hits a piece.
The Pilots will return to action Friday night when they will play host to the William Carey College Crusaders in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference action. LSUS is currently in a tie for top spot in the GCAC with the No. 11 Belhaven College Blazers (32-11). Game one of the three game series will commence Friday night at 6:30pm.
