Pilots Fall in Tight Midweek Battle to Nelson, 6-5

SHREVEPORT, La. — LSU Shreveport came up just short in a back-and-forth battle Tuesday afternoon, falling 6-5 to Nelson University at Pilot Field. The Pilots move to 34-10 on the season, while Nelson improves to 31-14.

Nelson wasted no time applying pressure, putting up three runs in the opening inning with a string of productive at-bats. The visitors tacked on another in the second to build an early 4-0 cushion.

The Pilots settled in and began to respond in the fourth. Carlos Vega jumpstarted the offense with an RBI double, and Spencer Sullivan followed with a run-scoring single to trim the deficit to one.

Momentum briefly swung in LSUS' favor, but Nelson answered in the fifth when Drew Ortiz delivered the game's biggest swing—a two-run homer that pushed the lead to 6-3.

LSUS refused to fade, answering right back in the bottom half of the inning. Vega came through again with an RBI knock, and Sullivan added his second run-producing hit of the day to make it a one-run game at 6-5.

From there, both pitching staffs took over. The Pilots threatened late but couldn't find the equalizer over the final four frames.

Vega paced the LSUS lineup with a 2-for-4 performance and two RBIs, while Sullivan matched him with two hits and two RBIs of his own as the Pilots collected 10 hits on the afternoon.

On the mound, Evan Gant got the start for LSUS and ran into trouble in the first inning. Cade Robin delivered a steady outing in relief, limiting Nelson to one run across 3.2 innings while striking out three. Camden Stephens added a scoreless inning, and Jacobo Gallegos provided 2.2 innings out of the bullpen. Virot Siharath was charged with the loss.

Nelson's bullpen proved decisive down the stretch, with Cash Eckermann earning the win after holding LSUS to one run over three innings and keeping the Pilots off balance late.

LSUS put the tying run on base in the ninth but couldn't deliver the final hit needed to extend the game.

The Pilots will return to action Friday, April 17, traveling to face Louisiana Christian University in a doubleheader to close out the regular season. First pitch is scheduled for 3 p.m.

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