‘Mercy rule’ invoked in seventh
for Pilots’ first World Series win 05/23/03

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(NAIA News Release on Game)

(Box Score)

The LSUS Pilots pounded the Indiana Tech Warriors for 11 runs by the seventh inning of Pilots’ first NAIA World Series appearance, invoking the 10-run “mercy rule” for the 11-1 win.

With third baseman Ben Wingerter on second base, center fielder Ramsey Branch nailed his first home run of the season in the bottom of the seventh to seal the victory for the Pilots.

LSUS plays No. 1 seed Oklahoma City, also No. 1 in the nation in the NAIA rankings, at 9:30 p.m. (CDT) Saturday.

The Pilots spotted Indiana Tech one run in the top of the first inning before peppering the Warriors for seven hits and as many runs in the bottom of the first. The Pilots added a run in the bottom of the second. Another run in the sixth, followed by Branch’s two-run homer in the seventh was all it took to send the Pilots into the second round. The Pilots had a game-totals of 11 runs, 15 hits and 2 errors.

The win improved the Pilots’ record to 50-22 on the season.

Line Score 123 456 789 R H E

Indiana Tech 100 000 0xx 1 4 1

LSUS 710 001 2xx 11 15 2

Play-by-Play (courtesy NAIA)

Indiana Tech starters: 2/ss Masden; 4/3b Turner; 9/2b Wilson; 31/dh Trujillo; 33/rf Henderson; 8/cf Foster; 5/1b Carper; 32/lf Lehner; 15/c Hosier; 3/p Knowling;

LSUS starters: 25/lf Reynolds; 16/2b Gray; 41/ss Arishenkoff; 18/dh McManis; 33/c McRae; 24/rf Morben; 44/1b Hernandez; 14/3b Wingerter; 19/cf Branch; 15/p Stevens;

Indiana Tech 1st - Masden singled to center field. Turner reached on a throwing error by p, SAC, bunt; Masden advanced to third. Turner stole second. Wilson flied out to cf, SF, RBI; Masden scored, unearned. Trujillo grounded out to ss. Henderson struck out. 1 run, 1 hit, 1 error, 1 LOB.

LSUS 1st - Reynolds singled through the right side. Gray singled through the right side; Reynolds advanced to third. Arishenkoff singled, bunt, RBI; Gray advanced to second; Reynolds scored. McManis doubled down the lf line, 2 RBI; Arishenkoff scored; Gray scored. McManis advanced to third on a throwing error by p, failed pickoff attempt. McRae fouled out to 3b. Morben doubled down the rf line, RBI; McManis scored. Hernandez reached on a fielder's choice; Morben out at second 3b to 2b. Wingerter singled through the left side; Hernandez advanced to second. Branch hit by pitch; Wingerter advanced to second; Hernandez advanced to third. Reynolds doubled to left center, 3 RBI; Branch scored; Wingerter scored; Hernandez scored. Brew to p for Knowling. Gray grounded out to 3b. 7 runs, 7 hits, 1 error, 1 LOB.

Indiana Tech 2nd - Foster struck out looking. Carper grounded out to 3b. Lehner grounded out to ss. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

LSUS 2nd - Arishenkoff flied out to rf. McManis doubled to right center. McRae flied out to lf. Morben singled to center field, RBI; McManis scored. Hernandez singled through the right side; Morben advanced to second. Wingerter flied out to cf. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 LOB.

Indiana Tech 3rd - Hosier grounded out to 2b. Masden grounded out to 3b. Turner lined out to lf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

LSUS 3rd - Branch grounded out to ss. Reynolds flied out to lf. Gray hit by pitch. Gray advanced to second on a balk. Arishenkoff fouled out to 3b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Indiana Tech 4th - Wilson grounded out to 3b. Trujillo grounded out to ss. Henderson singled to right field. Foster grounded out to p. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

LSUS 4th - McManis flied out to rf. McRae grounded out to 2b. Morben popped up to 1b. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.

Indiana Tech 5th - Carper flied out to rf. Lehner reached on a throwing error by ss. Hosier hit by pitch; Lehner advanced to second. David pinch ran for Hosier. Masden flied out to lf to left center. Turner hit by pitch; David advanced to second; Lehner advanced to third. Wilson flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, 3 LOB.

LSUS 5th - Hosier to c for David. Hernandez grounded out to p. Wingerter grounded out to ss. Branch hit by pitch. Reynolds flied out to cf. 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Indiana Tech 6th - Trujillo singled to shortstop. Henderson flied out to cf. Foster grounded out to 3b; Trujillo advanced to second. Carper struck out, out at first c to 1b. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

LSUS 6th - Langham to p for Brew. Gray doubled up the middle. Arishenkoff singled, out at first rf to 1b; Gray advanced to third, scored on the throw. McManis struck out. McRae tripled to right field. Gibbons pinch ran for McRae. Morben grounded out to ss. 1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

Indiana Tech 7th - McRae to c for Gibbons. Lehner grounded out to ss. Hosier singled up the middle. David pinch ran for Hosier. Masden flied out to lf. Turner flied out to rf. 0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, 1 LOB.

LSUS 7th - Hosier to c for David. Sebastian to lf for Foster. Lehner to cf. Hernandez grounded out to ss. Wingerter doubled to center field. Branch homered to left field, 2 RBI; Wingerter scored. 2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 LOB.