Pilots power past Muleriders, 13-5
February 28, 2007
Magnolia, AR---The LSUS Pilots (10-2) belted 16 hits, including six for extra bases Tuesday night as they muscled their way past NCAA Division II opponent Southern Arkansas University Muleriders (9-7) by a final score of 13-5.
Senior catcher Brent Lavallee set the stage for what turned out to be an offensive explosion for the Pilots Tuesday night by belting a double off the left field wall in the top of the 1st inning. The Muleriders however executed a perfect relay and gunned down Scott Talley at the plate denying the Pilots first run.
With runners on the corners in the top of the 2nd inning, Colin Moro tried to score from third base on a ground ball to first, but SAU threw out Moro and collected their second out of the game at the plate in as many innings. Pilots freshman second baseman Chase Jennings however delivered a clutch two out single through the left side of the infield which scored Bryan Cooksey from third base putting the Pilots ahead 1-0.
The Pilots looked as though they were going to squander yet another scoring opportunity after Chris Frye led off the top of the 3rd inning with a double to left field, but was thrown at third base trying to advance on a ground ball to shortstop off the bat of designated hitter Scott Talley. Lavallee however followed with a single to left field which was followed by a Steffan Primeaux three run homerun over the left field fence which put the Pilots ahead 4-0.
Pilots starting right hander Marc Dainty held the Muleriders hitless through 2.2 innings but surrendered a solo homerun off the bat of Tyler Maag which cut the Pilots lead to 4-1.
SAU added two more runs in the bottom of the 4th inning after Dane Lucas drew a leadoff walk and later scored on an RBI single by Scooter Hendrickson. Hendrickson promptly advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw by Dainty, and scored two pitches later on a David Aubrey RBI single to right field. Dainty allowed three runs on five hits and one walk while striking out five in his 4.0 innings of work.
LSUS took no time to answer as they plated two runs in the top of the 5th which was highlighted by back-to-back hits by Primeaux and Moro.
Pilots reliever Paul Marlow (1-0) escaped a bases loaded jam in the 5th and stranded runners on second and third in the 6th eliminating any chances of the Muleriders cutting into the Pilots 6-3 lead.
The back breaker for the Muleriders came in the top of the 7th inning after Brandon Magierowski belted a bases loaded 0-2 offering from Drew Webster over the left field fence for a grand slam and his first homerun of the season.
Two batters later Lavallee collected his third hit of night, this time in the form of a solo shot over the center field fence which put the Pilots ahead 12-3.
SAU capitalized on leadoff back to back walks in the 7th by Pilots reliever Victor Hernandez after Jeremy Triche delivered a two RBI single to left, but that would be as close as the Muleriders would come on this night as Blake Pinkston and Matt Clayman held the Muleriders scoreless over the 8th and 9th innings.
Marlow (1-0) was the pitcher of record and recorded his first win of the season after surrendering four walks and a hit by pitch, but held SAU scoreless through 2.0 innings of work.
Ryan McVay (1-1) suffered the loss for SAU after allowing four runs off seven hits in 2.1 innings pitched. Seven SAU hitters collected hits Tuesday night including Triche who finished 1-for-4 at the plate with two RBI.
Six Pilots collected multi-hit performances Tuesday night; Lavallee finished 3-for-6 which included a homerun (2), a double (2), two RBI, and two runs scored; Magierowski finished 2-for-5 which included a homerun (1), four RBI, and a run scored; Primeaux ended 2-for-5 with a homerun (1), three RBI and two runs scored; Frye finished 2-for-6; Moro finished 2-for-4; and Jennings finished 2-for-3 which included two runs scored and an RBI.
The Pilots will return to action again this weekend in New Orleans, LA as they will take on the Loyola University Wolfpack in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference action. Game one of the three game series is scheduled for 1:00pm Saturday afternoon. All games will be played at Segnette Field.
