Pilots split double-header with Pelicans
February 09, 2006
Shreveport, LA---The No. 14 LSUS Pilots played host to the No. 8 Spalding University Pelicans Thursday night at Pilot Field in double-header action. The Pilots squandered a 5-4 lead heading into the top of the 7th inning in game one after allowing four runs and lost by a final score of 8-5. The Pilots responded in game two with a 10-0 pounding over the Pelicans avoiding the sweep and improved to 3-3 on the year.
The Pelicans struck first in game one when Alex Kerins scored with two outs after Pilots short stop Brandon Magierowski made an errant throw to first allowing Kyle Bishof to reach base.
LSUS responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first off starting pitcher Mike Damchuk. Dustin Bissonnette led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third after Riley Cook delivered a double of the top of the left field wall. Tyler Williams followed with a two RBI double down the right field line and scored one pitch later after Steffan Primeaux delivered a single to center field to give the Pilots a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the 3rd inning the Pelicans took advantage of two Pilot errors and scored three runs of their own off just two hits to take a 4-3 lead.
Cook led off the Pilots half of the 3rd with a single and advanced to third base after Williams singled to center. Cook scored on a Colin Moro fielder’s choice to tie the game at 4-4.
Pilots starting pitcher Kevin Jewell allowed just one hit over the next three innings giving the Pilots a chance to break the game open. That chance came in the bottom of the 6th inning when the Pilots loaded the bases with no outs. Bryan Cooksey hit a ground ball to short which was thrown home for the force out but the ball was dropped by catcher Mark Aubrey allowing the go ahead run to score. The Pelicans however escaped the bases loaded jam after Magierowski grounded into a double play which included a force out at home, and then got pinch hitter Scott Talley to ground out to second base keeping the Pilot lead at 5-4.
The Pilots lifted Jewell in the top of the 7th to bring on sophomore closer Kris Marks. The Pelicans got to Marks quickly as Matt Brady singled to center and Bischoff followed with a triple to right center field tying the ballgame at 5-5. Bischoff scored on a double-steal one batter later which proved to be the winning run in the contest as Damchuk retire the Pilots in order in the bottom of the 7th.
Damchuk (1-1) scattered eight hits and three walks while allowing five runs (four earned) and collecting five strikeouts. Kerins led the Pelican offense with a 2-5 performance and scored two runs.
Jewell (0-0) received the no decision after allowing just one earned run over 6.0 innings. Marks (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing four runs (three earned) on four hits in 1.0 innings.
The Pilots welcomed the return of starting pitcher Matt Clayman in game two. Clayman got the ball for his first start of the year and did not disappoint as he went six strong shutout innings while scattering five hits, walking just one and striking out five Pelicans.
LSUS scored three runs in the bottom of the second and one in the fourth before erupting for six runs in the bottom of the fifth inning which was capped by a three-run in the park homerun by third baseman Bryan Cooksey.
Cooksey led the Pilots offense with a 2-3 performance at the plate which included two runs and three RBI. Bissonnette and Moro each added two hits a piece in the 10-0 route over the Pelicans.
Game three of the series will be played Sunday afternoon at 1:00pm at Pilot Field.
