SAU Defeats LSUS 12-10
February 04, 2009
SHREVEPORT, La. – No. 15 LSUS saw its six-game winning streak come to an end Wednesday night, dropping a 12-10 decision to the No. 6 ranked team in NCAA Division II , Southern Arkansas University.
Southern Arkansas struck first with a three-run double in the top of the first, taking an early 3-0 lead over the Pilots. Pitcher Scott Petroski looked as if he was going to get out of a bases-loaded jam without any damage, but Brandon Graves lined a 1-2 pitch to the wall out in left field.
SAU put four more runs on the board in the bottom of the third via two hits, a walk and a costly error. Cannon Lester scored on a walk for the first Mulerider run of the inning, while the other two runs came on a two-out throwing error by third baseman David Bradley.
Jeffrey Garidel doubled in LSUS’ first run of the game with two-outs in the bottom of the third, and pinch-hitter Stephen Hobbins continued the two-out rally with an infield single, scoring Brent Lavallee from third. Quinton Shamsabady kept things rolling with a three-run shot over the left-field fence, cutting the Mulerider lead down to just two runs.
LSUS took their first lead of the game in the fourth with three runs, going in front of the Muleriders 8-7. Lavallee doubled in the first run of the inning, while Garidel knocked in two runs on a misplayed fly ball by the SAU outfield.
After the Muleriders scored two in the fifth to regain the lead, LSUS answered with two more of their own on a Brandon Bravata RBI single and an RBI double by Andrew Blubaugh.
SAU added two more in the sixth and another run in the seventh, closing out the scoring in the contest and giving the Muleriders a 12-10 victory.
SAU’s Aaron Terry earned the victory out of the bullpen, while designated hitter Dane Lucas came in and pitched two scoreless innings to earn the save.
Gino Spratley (0-1) was tagged with his first loss of the season, allowing three runs in his only inning of action.
SAU had four batters finish with multiple hits in the contest, as Graves led the way with two hits and three RBIs for the visitors. Curtis Gibson, Lucas and Lester also had two hits on the night.
Garidel was the only Pilot with more than one hit for the game.
LSUS (6-1, 3-0) will travel to Jackson, Miss., on Friday for a huge three-game conference series versus rival Belhaven.
