Pilots Sweep Closing Day Doubleheader at Cajun Collision

STERLINGTON, La. – The LSU Shreveport Pilots capped off their Cajun Collision tournament appearance with a thrilling doubleheader sweep on the final day of competition. The Pilots secured a dramatic 8-7 victory over No. 22 Tabor College in game one before dominating Dakota State University 5-0 in game two under the lights.

Game One: LSUS Rallies Late to Edge Tabor, 8-7

The Pilots (6-0) showcased their resilience in game one, overcoming a late deficit to defeat the No. 22-ranked Tabor Blue Jays in walk-off fashion.

Tabor jumped out to an early lead in the first inning with Juan Rosa Gonzalez singling up the middle to score a run. LSUS quickly responded in the bottom half of the frame as Alex Swenda grounded into a double play, allowing Jordan Gibson to cross home and even the score at 1-1.

After Tabor reclaimed the lead in the third and extended it in the fifth with a three-run double from Daniel Zepeda, LSUS trailed 5-1. The Pilots chipped away in the bottom of the fifth, cutting the deficit to three after an unearned run scored on a passed ball.

Garryn Plummer's RBI single in the top of the sixth pushed Tabor's advantage to 6-2, but the Pilots responded in their half of the inning. Jose Sallorin singled home a run, followed by Vantrel Reed's RBI single and Diego Aragon reaching on an error to bring another across. The Pilots trailed just 6-5 entering the final inning.

Tabor added an insurance run in the seventh on a sacrifice fly, but LSUS had the last word. Sallorin came up clutch with a two-run double to left center, tying the game at 7-7. Moments later, Reed delivered the go-ahead single to left, scoring Jackson Syring and sealing the walk-off win for LSUS.

David Hankins (2-0) earned the win in relief, tossing an inning while allowing one hit and one run. Starter Cobe Reeves went 4.1 innings, giving up eight hits and five runs while striking out two.

For Tabor, Wyatt Bauer took a no-decision, allowing four runs in five innings. Payton Tinkler (0-1) suffered the loss, surrendering four runs in an inning of relief.

In the nightcap, LSUS rode the arm of Draven Zeigler to a dominant 5-0 victory over Dakota State, securing their second win of the day in convincing fashion.

Zeigler (2-0) was electric, firing a complete-game shutout while allowing just three hits and striking out 13 Trojans. The right-hander was in complete control, keeping the Dakota State lineup off balance throughout the evening.

LSUS broke through in the fourth inning when Ryan Davenport stole home on a double steal with Vantrel Reed swiping second. Moments later, Syring drove in Reed on a fielder's choice, giving the Pilots a 2-0 advantage.

The Pilots added another run in the fifth as DJ Walker executed a steal of home to make it 3-0. LSUS capped the scoring in the sixth when Walker doubled in a run, and another came across on a throwing error by the left fielder, securing the 5-0 final.

Dakota State's Nicholai Arbach (0-1) took the loss, giving up five runs (four earned) on six hits in six innings.

With the sweep, LSUS improves to 6-1 on the season as they return home for their next series.