Pilots hammer Huskies 13-3 in Game 1; Huskies respond with 4-1 victory in Game 2
April 03, 2007
Shreveport, LA---Tuesday afternoon featured two Top 30 NAIA squads matched up at Pilots Field in the No. 29 LSUS Pilots (25-9) and the No. 26 Houston Baptist University (24-12). The Pilots forced the Huskies to walk off the field in the 6th inning after building a 13-3 lead forcing the 10-run mercy rule to come in to effect in game one. HBU however rode the arm of Jay Prigmore (3-2) who tossed a complete game four hitter in game two en route to a 4-1 Husky victory.
Game 1
The Huskies offense erupted for three runs in the top of the 1st inning off Pilots starter Daniel Welch (5-0). Ryan Majewski lifted a fly ball to left-center field which carried to wall for a lead off triple. A fielder’s choice to shortstop scored Majewski for the games first run. A missed played grounder by the Pilots infield allowed Greg Gossett to reach and later score on an RBI infield single by Brian Franze stretching the HBU lead to 3-0.
With some help from HBU starter Matthew Headley (6-3), the Pilots quickly erased the 3-0 deficit by scoring four runs of their own in the bottom of the 1st inning. Headley walked the first two batters he faced in David McGhee and Colin Moro which was followed by a bunt single from Bryan Stebbings to load the bases. Bryan Cooksey walked which plated the Pilots first run which was followed by an RBI sacrifice fly from Jeff Ledet to deep left-center field scoring Moro from third base. Brandon Magierowski capped off the four run rally with a two-out two-RBI single to center field giving the Pilots a 4-3 lead.
After a scoreless 2nd inning, the Pilots added to their lead in the 3rd after Magierowski drew a bases loaded walk which was followed by an RBI sacrifice fly by pinch hitter Scott Talley which stretched the Pilots lead to 6-3.
LSUS added a solo run in the bottom of the 4th via the long ball after Ledet belted his first round tripper of the season putting the Pilots ahead 7-3.
The Pilots bats added four more runs in the 5th which was highlighted by Cooksey’s 5th homerun of the season deep to left-center field.
In the 6th the Pilots belted three hits and scored two runs including a double to right field by pinch hitter Bobby Hebert to increase their lead to 13-3, forcing the 10-run mercy rule to come in effect after six innings.
The HBU staff allowed 11 hits while handing out 11 free passes in the losing effort. Headley was the losing pitcher of record after allowing six runs on two hits and six walks in 2.0 innings. Offensively for the Huskies, Eric Schiro finished 2-for-3 with a double while Franze was 1-for-2 with an RBI and a run scored.
After a shaky 1st inning, Welch settled in and held the Huskies scoreless through the next 5.0 innings marking his 5th victory of the year in a complete game effort. He scattered seven hits and allowed three walks while striking out five.
Ledet led the Pilots offense going 2-for-2 with a homerun, two RBI and two runs scored. Cooksey finished 1-for-3 with a homerun, three RBI and two runs scored.
Game 2
The Huskies struck first again in game two after Franze belted a two out RBI single to center scoring Chad Hebert who walked earlier in the inning giving HBU a 1-0 lead.
HBU added what turned out to be the winning run in the 3rd inning after Gossett doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on a Crabtree single, extending the HBU lead to 2-0.
Prigmore (3-2) was on cruise control through 4.0 innings as he flirted with perfection against an absolutely silent Pilots offense. Cooksey collected the Pilots first hit in the 5th with a single to center. Prigmore answered by striking out Ledet with three pitches before allowing a single to Colin Moro. The crafty lefty shut down any chances of a Pilots rally by striking out Magierowski for the 3rd out of the inning.
Trailing 4-0 in the 6th, the Pilots managed to plate their only run of the game after a potential inning ending double-play was thrown away by Hebert which allowed Shamsabady to score from second base.
After a scoreless top of the 7th by senior left hander Cory Keener who saw his first action of the season, the Pilots managed a single from Ledet in the bottom of the frame, but Prigmore proved to be too much on this day as the Huskies avoided the sweep with a 4-1 victory.
Prigmore scattered four hits and one walk while allowing one run (unearned) and striking out six in 7.0 innings of work. Crabtree finished 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI while teammates Diego Castillo and Hebert each finished 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored,
Mark Dainty (1-3) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on five hits and two walks in 2.1 innings of work. Pilots reliever Blake Pinkston allowed two runs in 2.2 innings after allowing five hits and walk while striking out two before Victor Hernandez and Keener tagged up to hold the Huskies scoreless in the 6th and 7th innings.
LSUS will return to action Friday night at 6:30pm when they play host to Loyola University in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference action. Friday night’s contest is slated to begin at 6:30pm. Games two and three will commence Saturday in the form of a double-header with first pitch slated for 1:00pm.
