LSUS Walks Off Oklahoma Wesleyan 5-4 in NAIA Opening Round

SHREVEPORT, La. -- LSU Shreveport earned a 5-4 walk-off victory over Oklahoma Wesleyan University on Monday night at Pilot Field in the NAIA Baseball Opening Round. 

The Pilots struck first in the bottom of the second inning. Evan Gant singled to second base and Carlos Vega followed with a single through the left side before Brett Justice was hit by a pitch to load the bases. After Bula White struck out swinging, Makana Olaso was hit by a pitch to bring home Gant for the game's first run. Quaterrion Walton then grounded out on a sacrifice bunt that scored Vega and gave LSUS a 2-0 lead.

Oklahoma Wesleyan answered in the top of the third inning. Wally Diaz singled to left field and Daurys Manzanillo followed with another single before JT Maloney lifted a fly ball to center that moved Diaz to third. Joseph Gutierrez then singled through the left side to score Diaz and trim the lead to 2-1.

LSUS added two more runs in the sixth inning. Carlos Sanchez singled to shortstop and later stole third after Evan Gant moved him over with a sacrifice bunt. Following a walk by Brett Justice and a stolen base from pinch runner Nathaniel De La Cruz, Rodrigo Bravo doubled to right center to score both De La Cruz and Sanchez, extending the Pilots' lead to 4-1.

The Eagles rallied in the eighth inning against three LSUS pitchers. Gilbert Morales opened the inning with a solo home run off Camden Stephens before Jo'elvis Fernandez singled through the left side. After Brenden Poindexter struck out swinging, Wally Diaz drew a walk to put two runners on base. Joan Roman entered in relief before Daurys Manzanillo doubled down the right field line to score Diaz and Fernandez, tying the game at 4-4. Jacobo Gallegos entered and recorded the final out of the inning on a groundout to shortstop by JT Maloney.

LSUS answered in the bottom of the ninth inning as Quaterrion Walton scored the winning run on a Spencer Sullivan strikeout swinging to secure the 5-4 victory.

Rodrigo Bravo finished 1-for-2 with two RBI for the Pilots, while Quaterrion Walton went 2-for-3 with one run scored and one RBI. Jacobo Gallegos improved to 6-1 on the season after tossing 1.1 scoreless innings with no hits allowed, one walk, and one strikeout. Brock Lucas started for LSUS and worked seven innings, allowing one run on seven hits with four walks and seven strikeouts.

For Oklahoma Wesleyan, Daurys Manzanillo went 3-for-5 with two RBI, while Gilbert Morales finished 2-for-2 with a home run and one RBI. Alex Garcia tossed 7.2 innings in the start for the Eagles, allowing four runs on six hits while striking out 10. Austin Stephenson took the loss after allowing the winning run in the ninth inning.

The Pilots will return to action in Game 5 of the NAIA Baseball Opening Round Shreveport Bracket on May 12 at 2:30 p.m. against Mid-America Christian University at Pilot Field in Shreveport, Louisiana.

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