Pilots top Oklahoma City

SHREVEPORT, La. – The no. 13 LSU Shreveport Pilots baseball team defeated the no. 7 Oklahoma City University Stars by a final score of 5-4 on Friday afternoon at Pilot Field.

The Pilots (3-4) got on the board first with a two-run triple by Chase Wentz in the bottom of the first inning to give the home team a 2-0 lead. Wentz’s double to lead off the fourth inning later led to their third run of the game and a 3-0 advantage after four complete innings of play. Shawn Moy hit a two-out solo-homer in the bottom of the fifth inning to extend the lead to 4-0.

OCU (0-1) pushed across two runs in the top of the sixth to trim the Pilot lead to two, 4-2. The Stars added a single run in the top of the seventh and tied the game at four with a solo-homer from first baseman, Miguel Beltran.

Wentz led off the bottom of the eighth inning with a single to start the late inning rally. Curtis Beaudoin moved Wentz to second base with a sacrifice bunt. Wentz stole third base followed by a Carson Matinez walk to put runners at first and third with two outs and the go-ahead run 90 feet away.

With two strikes on the pinch-hitter, Ridge Gonsoulin, the Pilots chose the delayed double steal as Wentz slide past the OCU cathcher before he could apply the tag and score the then go-ahead run which eventually became the winning run.

LSUS reliever, Cade Bowen (1-0), picked up the win with two innings of relief work. Bowen allowed one hit, one earned run, one walk and three strikeouts. He struck out the final batter of the game with the tying run on second base for OCU.

The Pilot’s starting pitcher Jared Mata pitched a great game despite the no-decision. He tossed seven strong innings against one of the top high-powered offenses in the country. Mata allowed eight hits while he allowed three earned runs, one walk, and struck out six batters.

OCU’s Rich Hawkins (0-1) suffered the loss for the visitors after an inning and two-thirds of relief work. The Pilots chased OCU starter out of the game in the sixth inning as he pitched five complete innings allowing five hits, four earned runs, four walks and two strike outs.

LSUS scored five runs on six hits and made two errors in the field while the Stars scored four runs on nine hits and played an error-free game defensively.

The Pilots will take on the no. 12 Belhaven Blazers (4-0) tomorrow at Pilot Field in a double header which will consist of a 7-inning and 9-inning game. The first game of the double dip will begin at 1:00 p.m.  Belhaven defeated OCU on Friday 8-7 in 12 innings. 

OCU will play a single game versus LSU Alexandria on Saturday in Alexandria.