Pilots salvage series with 13-11 win over Crusaders
March 12, 2005
Shreveport, LA---The LSUS Pilots and William Carey Crusaders locked horns in a double-header Saturday afternoon at Pilot Field. The Crusaders held off a 7th inning Pilot rally and escaped with an 8-6 win in game one, but fell victim to a nine run outburst in the bottom of the third inning in game two which led the Pilots to a 13-11 victory in game two.
The Crusaders jumped out to an 8-3 lead in game one as they collected 8 runs on 10 hits versus Pilots ace, Derek Cunningham (3-1). A two run homerun by Dusty Maddox in the bottom of the 6th inning cut the Crusader lead to 8-5. After a scoreless top of the seventh, the Pilots managed to load the bases with the score 8-6, but Crusader reliever Zach Butler managed to get Jeremy Chabot to chase a high fastball for strike three, ending the Pilots comeback bid.
Andy McCarter completed 4.2 innings out of the bullpen allowing 6 runs on 6 hits and collected 4 strikeouts for the win. Casey Ginn finished 4-4 at the plate with 3 runs scored and an RBI to lead the Crusader offense. Steven Johnson was 2-4 with a game high 3 RBI.
Cunningham was tagged with his first loss of the year after completing 5.0 innings, surrendering 10 hits and 8 runs (6 earned), while walking 2 and collecting 4 strikeouts. Brent Lavallee was the lone Pilot with 2 hits as he finished 2-2 which included a 2 RBI double in the bottom of the second inning.
In game two, Maddox opened the scoring with his 8th homerun of the season of Crusader starter Josh Johnson. A two RBI triple by Maddox in the bottom of the third capped off a nine run inning which gave the Pilots an 12-4 lead.
The Crusaders chased Pilot starter Kevin Jewell from the game in the 5th who gave way to Tyler Lewis in relief. The Crusaders managed to score two in the 5th, 3 in the 6th, and two more in the top of the 7th off Lewis, but fell short in the end as the Pilots managed to avoid the three game series sweep with a 13-11 victory.
Jewell improved to 5-0 on the season after scattering 6 Crusader hits and 7 walks while completing 4.1 innings allowing 6 runs (5 earned).
Brandon Magierowski finished 2-3 which included his first college homerun, a line drive to straight-away center field in the bottom of the fifth. Chris Frye was 3-4 while teammates Brian Cooksey and Dustin Bissonnette each pitched in with multi-hit performances. Maddox finished 2-4 with 3 RBI, and 2 runs scored.
With the win the Pilots improve to 19-5 on the year and are currently tied with the University of Mobile Rams for top spot in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference at 9-3. The Pilots will be in action again Tuesday night when they will play host to the Louisiana College Wildcats. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30pm.
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To receive LSUS Sports Releases by e-mail, contact Allan Cantwell at: sports@pilot.lsus.edu
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