Pilots Split Saturday's Doubleheader With Belhaven
March 28, 2009
Shreveport, La. - The No. 5 LSUS Pilots split a pair of games versus the Belhaven Blazers on Saturday afternoon at Pilot Field, winning game one 13-8 and falling in game two 18-11.
Game One – LSUS 13, Belhaven 8
LSUS picked up their 30th win of the season, as they rallied back from an early 7-0 deficit to defeat the Belhaven Blazers 13-8 in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader.
The Pilots trailed 7-0 with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but responded with 10 runs in the inning to take the lead and control of the contest. David Bradley got it all started with a walk on a 3-2 count and the Pilots offense exploded from there. An RBI single by Brandon Bravata plated the first run of the inning, and LSUS went on to score nine more runs in fourth on just five hits, with the two biggest blows coming on two-run triples off the bat of Andrew Brouillette and Chase Wentz.
Andrew Blubaugh launched a two-run homer in the fifth and Quinton Shamsabady hit a solo shot in the sixth to cap off the LSUS scoring in game one.
John James (10-0) recorded his NAIA leading tenth win of the season and Justin Ennis picked up his first save on the year, as the two combined to help lift the Pilots to their NAIA-best 30th win.
Shamsabady finished 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs to lead the Pilots in game one.
*Notes: The Pilots are the first team in the NAIA to reach the 30-win plateau with the victory; John James becomes first pitcher in NAIA to win 10 games; Brandon Bravata added to his school and conference hit-by-pitch record with his 30th of the season, moving one closer to the NAIA national record of 34.
Game Two - LSUS 11, Belhaven 18
Designated hitter Timmy Foster homered three times and drove in seven runs for the Blazers, as Belhaven knocked off the Pilots 18-11 in game two.
Trailing 11-5 in the top of the seventh, the Blazers erupted for 11 runs on just four hits with a three-run homer by Foster sparking the Blazers' rally.
Brouillette led the Pilots at the plate in game two with a 4-for-5 performance including a home run and three RBIs.
Chase Wentz also homered in the second game, collecting a pair of hits in the twilight and driving in three runs.
Belhaven's Brian McCormick chipped in three hits for the winners, finishing the game with a home run and three RBIs for the visitors.
LSUS (30-5, 20-2) remains in first place in the GCAC standings with the split, and they will return to action on Tuesday when they take on the Texas Wesleyan Rams in a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 p.m at Pilot Field.
