Pilots Crush Wildcats
February 13, 2008
Shreveport, La. – The LSUS Pilots picked up their second consecutive win at home on Wednesday night, defeating the visiting Louisiana College Wildcats 17-2.
After a scoreless top of the first inning, the Pilots plated three runs in the bottom of the inning courtesy of two errors by the Wildcats. After Quinton Shamsabady singled and Andrew Blubaugh walked to begin the inning, both runners scored on a two-base throwing error by LC third baseman Matt Smith following Jeffrey Garidel’s bunt single.
Garidel would later score on a fielder’s choice, giving the Pilots and early 3-0 lead.
Tyler Bray, a transfer from Bossier Parish Community College and product of C.E. Byrd High School, singled to begin the top of the second for the Wildcats, and would eventually score on a single by Andrew Shelton.
The Pilots threatened in the bottom of the fourth inning after Matt Whitney reached base on a throwing error by the LC shortstop and Brandon Bravata walked. Both runners advanced on stolen bases, moving into scoring position with two outs. However, the Pilots came up empty as Shamsabady chopped out to the shortstop to end the inning.
The Pilots picked up their third hit of the game and first since the first inning off a texas leaguer by Garidel to right field. Catcher Brian Stebbings knocked Garidel in on a triple to deep right center, putting the Pilots ahead 4-1. Stebbings later scored on a squeeze bunt by Whitney, as the Pilots put three runs on the board in the fourth.
LC’s Matt Smith led off the top of the fifth with a solo homerun, but that would be all the Wildcats would get in the inning, as starting pitcher Gino Spratley retired three of the next four batters.
Spratley (1-0) exited the game after six innings on the mound, giving up just two runs on three hits.
The Wildcats put runners on second and third with one out in the sixth, but LSUS reliever Zac Ray got the next two batters to ground out and fly out to end the inning.
The LSUS offense opened up the game in the bottom of the seventh with eight runs, as 12 batters came to the plate in the inning for the Pilots. Andrew Brouillete and Robert Pharr each had RBI doubles in the inning, while Craig Barnes, Bravata and Shamsabady also singled to drive in runs.
The Pilots added four more runs in the bottom of the eighth as Chris Wentz and Bravata singled in runs in the inning. Senior Chris Porche also picked up his first hit of the season with a pinch-hit single down the right field line.
Ray and Colby Lehman combined to pitch three shutout innings in relief for the Pilots.
The Pilots will host Tougaloo in a doubleheader on Thursday afternoon at Pilots Field. The three-game series which was originally scheduled for Friday and Saturday, will now be played on Thursday due to impending bad weather in the Shreveport area this weekend. Thursday’s games will begin at 4:00 PM.
