Todd's Game-Winning Double Lifts Pilots in Extras
April 18, 2008
Shreveport, La. – Josh Todd’s two-out, game-winning RBI double gave the LSUS Pilots (36-12, 22-9) their tenth consecutive win, and the series-opening victory over the William Carey Crusaders (30-17, 19-11), 8-7, in extra innings on Friday night at Pilot Field.
After a scoreless first inning, William Carey scored three runs on three hits in the top of the second, including a two-out, two-RBI single by Jordan Prout.
The Pilots threatened in the bottom half of the second by loading the bases with two outs, but came up empty-handed after Matthew Rozier struck out pinch-hitter David Bradley to end the inning.
LSUS finally got on the scoreboard in the bottom of the fourth on a two-run homerun by Jeffrey Garidel, his seventh of the season.
Carey answered with a single run in the fifth to take a 4-2 lead over the Pilots. However, the Pilots scored four runs on one hit and three Crusader errors, taking their first lead of the game, 6-4.
Following a scoreless sixth, William Carey scored three runs in the seventh, taking a 7-6 lead with two outs on a two-run RBI double by David Trisler off Pilot reliever Zach Ray.
LSUS tied the game at 7-7 in the bottom of the inning after Todd scored on a passed ball.
A scoreless eighth and ninth inning sent the game into extras, but in the bottom of the tenth, Todd doubled in Chase Wentz to give the Pilots an 8-7 victory.
Gino Spratley (5-1) picked up the win in relief, pitching three innings out of the pen. Spratley allowed just one hit and faced the minimum batters in his appearance.
Garidel finished the night 2-for-3 with a double and a homerun for the Pilots, while Keith Williams led the Crusaders with a 3-for-5 performance in the loss.
LSUS and William Carey will square off again tomorrow afternoon in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 PM.
