The LSUS Pilots (13-7)entered Friday nights contest one game behind the visiting Loyola Wolfpack of New Orleans. Loyola jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the first but were then silenced by Pilot ace Gene Stevens.
Stevens went on to collect 14 stikeouts in his 8 innings of work while only allowing the single run in the top of the first. LSUS managed to scratch across single runs in the 5th and 6th innings to give them the lead in the top of the ninth.
Pilot closer Cody Willis was then brought in to replace Stevens in the ninth, looking for his second save of the year. A Greg Veltri ground ball to third base which found its way through the LSUS third baseman gave Loyola a new life in the ninth. Veltri promptly stole second and scored on a double by Justin Perron to tie the ball game at 2.
Pilot third baseman Brian Cooksey redeemed his self for the ninth inning blunder by leading off the 11th with a single through the left side of the infield to spark a Pilot rally. A fielders choice by Troy Vaughan moved pinch runner Justin Gibbons to second to put the winning run in scoring position. An intentional walk to Jeremy Chabot followed by a Kyle Mace single loaded the bases for Pilot senior second baseman Wesley Gray with one out. Gray tagged a 1-0 pitch to right center field deep enough to allow Gibbons to score from third and give Pilots the victory in game one of the three game series.
Wesley Gray finished the game 1-4 with a triple, a run scored and the game winning RBI. Leadoff hitter Dustin Bissonnett was the only Pilot with a multiple hit night going 2-5.
LSUS will look to improve their standing in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference tomorrow as these two teams will battle it out in double-header action at Pilot Field with the first game beginning at 1:00pm.
