Pilots Split Opening Round Finale, Fall to MACU in Championship Game

SHREVEPORT, La. -- LSU Shreveport's season came to an end Wednesday evening as the Pilots split the day in the 2026 NAIA Baseball Opening Round Shreveport Bracket, defeating Oklahoma Wesleyan University 6-5 in 11 innings before falling 7-4 to Mid-America Christian University in the championship game at Pilot Field. LSUS finished the season 43-14 overall and 20-7 in Red River Athletic Conference play. 

The Pilots opened the day with an extra-inning thriller against Oklahoma Wesleyan in Game 7 of the bracket.

LSUS struck first in the second inning when Makana Olaso lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score Brett Justice for a 1-0 lead.

Oklahoma Wesleyan answered in the fourth inning as Joseph Gutierrez delivered a two-run single to give the Eagles a 2-1 advantage.

The Pilots responded with a three-run fifth inning to regain control. Dorien Jackson doubled home Quaterrion Walton before Carlos Vega drove in two runs with a single to right field for a 4-2 lead.

LSUS added another run in the sixth inning after Walton reached on an error and later scored on a throwing error by the Eagles, extending the advantage to 5-2.

Oklahoma Wesleyan rallied in the eighth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run from Brenden Poindexter that tied the game at 5-5.

The game remained deadlocked until the 11th inning when Walton reached on a strikeout wild pitch, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt, stole third, and scored on a sacrifice fly from Rodrigo Bravo to give LSUS the winning run.

Walton sparked the Pilots offensively, scoring twice and stealing three bases, including crossing home with the game-winning run in the 11th inning. Bravo drove in two runs, including the decisive sacrifice fly in extra innings, while Vega went 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Jackson added a double and RBI for LSUS.

Gutierrez led Oklahoma Wesleyan by going 3-for-4 with two RBIs, while JT Maloney and Daurys Manzanillo each recorded two hits. Joan Roman earned the win in relief after tossing 2.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts, and Virot Shiarath recorded the save. 

Later in the evening, LSUS faced Mid-America Christian in the championship game.

The Evangels jumped out quickly with three runs in the opening inning as Nick Hill drove in two runs with a double before Adam Hanan added an RBI single.

The Pilots answered immediately with a four-run second inning. Olaso plated the first run with a sacrifice fly before Walton delivered a two-run triple to right field to give LSUS the lead. Jackson followed with an RBI single to cap the inning and put the Pilots ahead 4-3.

Mid-America Christian regained the lead in the sixth inning with four runs. Hanan cleared the bases with a three-run double before Tuane Cope added an RBI single to extend the lead to 7-4.

Jackson led the Pilots offensively in the finale, going 2-for-5 with an RBI. Nazir Mendez finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, while Walton went 1-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs, and a run scored. Vega added a hit, and Olaso drove in a run.

Hanan finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs and a run scored for MACU, while Cope went 4-for-4 with an RBI. Hallada collected two hits and scored twice for the Evangels.

Calvin Shepherd was charged with the loss for the Pilots after allowing three runs in relief. Virot Siharath provided 3.2 innings of scoreless relief with five strikeouts, while Cade Robin allowed one run over three innings and struck out one batter.

Carlos Uribe earned the win after allowing four runs over six innings, while Byron Madero picked up the save with three scoreless innings of relief. 

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