Pilots Power Past Southwest, Take Game 1 of RRAC First-Round Series

SHREVEPORT, La. -- Second-seeded LSU Shreveport used an explosive start, dominant pitching, and timely hitting to defeat No. 7 seed University of the Southwest, 10-4, in eight innings Friday afternoon in Game 1 of the Red River Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament First Round at Pilot Field. With the victory, the Pilots improved to 37-12 overall, while the Mustangs dropped to 15-31. 

LSUS wasted little time taking control, erupting for three runs in the first inning. Dorien Jackson sparked the offense with a leadoff double before Brett Justice drove in a run with an RBI double. Carlos Vega followed with an RBI single, and Makana Olaso added a two-run single to cap the frame and give the Pilots a 3-0 lead.

The Pilots added to the advantage in the second when Quaterrion Walton reached and Carlos Sanchez delivered an RBI single, stretching the lead to 4-0. LSUS broke things open in the third as Vega singled and later scored, while Jackson delivered a two-run double later in the inning to push the margin to 7-0.

On the mound, Brock Lucas turned in a dominant outing to earn the win and improve to 9-2. The senior right-hander worked seven innings, allowing just three hits and no earned runs while striking out 12. Lucas consistently kept Southwest off balance, working around two walks and an unearned run while recording multiple key strikeouts in scoring situations. Camden Stephens closed things out in relief, tossing the eighth inning with one strikeout.

LSUS added another run in the sixth when Sanchez doubled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Vega to make it 8-0. After Southwest pushed across four runs late, the Pilots ended the contest in the bottom of the eighth. Jackson singled to open the inning, Sanchez followed with a hit, and Vega drew a bases-loaded walk to force home the final run and secure the run-rule victory.

Vega led the LSUS offense, finishing 3-for-4 with two RBIs, two stolen bases, and a run scored. Jackson went 3-for-4 with a double, home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored, while Olaso drove in three runs. Sanchez collected two hits and an RBI, and Justice added two RBIs as the Pilots piled up 11 hits.

Southwest was paced by Santiago Garcia with two hits, while Mark Gonzales added an RBI. Mustang starter Miguel Olivas (5-6) was charged with the loss, allowing eight runs — two earned — over 2.2 innings. Zane Rush gave Southwest solid relief with 2.1 scoreless innings, while Ryland Pittman and Keigo Wajima also saw action out of the bullpen.

Defensively, the Pilots turned two double plays and used aggressive baserunning to steal four bases, while capitalizing on Southwest miscues to keep pressure on the Mustangs throughout the afternoon.

With Game 1 in hand, the No. 2-seeded Pilots will look to finish off the series when they host No. 7 Southwest in Game 2 at 6 p.m. on April 25 at Pilot Field.

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