Pilots win final game of Southwest series
March 03, 2012
HOBBS, N. M. - The no. 6 Pilots downed the Southwest Mustangs 9-2 on Saturday afternoon at J. O. Williams Field to win the series two games to three as Drew Middleton picked up his first win of the season.
Middleton (1-0) earned the victory after seven solid innings of work scattering seven hits while allowing just two earned runs while striking out five. Middleton worked out of a bases loaded jam in the fourth inning as he induced a twin killer to end the threat and keep a zero on the board for the home team. The two Southwest runs came in the bottom of the seventh inning with a two-run double by Carlos Rodrigues that trimmed the LSUS' lead to 7-2.
The Pilots added two runs in the top of the eighth as Manny Estrada delivered a two-run double to extend the lead back to seven. Estrada was three for five at the plate with three runs batted in while Stephen Hobbins was two for four and Ridge Gonsoulin was three for five with a RBI.
LSUS got off to a 3-0 start in the first inning as Greg Friesen hit a two-run homer and Estrada drove in to other run with a single to left. The Pilots added three more in the second as Caleb Killian drove in the first run of the inning with a base hit and then Gonsoulin and Pearson added RBI-doubles as they chased the Southwest starter out of the game as Andrew Felix (0-2) suffered the loss allowing six earned runs in an inning and a third.
The next game for the Pilots will be on Tuesday, March 6, at 4 p.m. at Pilot Field in a double header against the LSU Alexandria Generals.
