BASEBALL FINISHES SWEEP OF SOUTHWEST (10-9, 5-4)
#12 LSU Shreveport Baseball finished off their first conference sweep of the season as they downed Southwest in the three-game set. The Pilots won game two of the series 10-9 in walk-off fashion before closing the series with a 5-4 victory. The Pilots have won every series this season and improve to 18-4 on the year and 5-1 in RRAC games.
GAME ONE (Pilots win 10-9) - BOX SCORE
Game one was one of the weirder games the Pilots have played this season. Kevin Miranda got the start on the mound for the Pilots and gave up four runs in the first inning of the game. The Pilots responded in the bottom of the first by scoring three runs but Miranda would be chased from the game in the second inning and give way to Trey Rugg. Rugg escaped the second without allowing any runs before the Pilots took the lead with a two spot in the bottom half, powered by Payton Robertson. Shreveport would pick up two runs in the fifth and sixth and carried a 9-5 lead into the seventh inning before things fell apart. An error and a tough hop on what could have been a game-ending double-play, led to a four run inning that tied the game for Southwest. Fortunately for the Pilots, they would create the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning when Corey Bellot stole home on a double-steal to win the game 10-9.
Luisdiego Quintana picked up the win in the contest, his fourth of the season as he improves to 4-0. Quintana struck out five in 2 and 2/3 innings of work allowing just one run. Payton Robertson was the catalyst offensively going 4 for 5 at the dish and stealing three bags while scoring twice.
GAME TWO - Pilots win 5-4
Hunter Cunningham made his first start of the season for the Pilots on the mound and fared well. He pitched 1 and 2/3 innings of one run baseball before giving way to Senior Andrew Lowe who gave the Pilots 2 and 2/3 innings of work. Lowe allowed two runs, one earned, while striking out two batters against no walks. Trent Sholders would come into the game following Lowe and finish off the seven-inning game and pick up the win. Sholders pitched 2 and 2/3 innings and allowed one earned run on three hits while striking out two. The win was the first of the season for Sholders.
Offensively, Ryne Ray powered the Pilots as he was 3-3 in the game scoring and run and driving in one. Taylor Fajardo and Corey Bellot were each 2-3 in the contest as well. Payton Robertson picked up another hit for his fifth on the day and stole another base to finish with four stolen bases.