LSUS RANKED # 18 IN NAIA PRESEASON POLL

NOVEMBER 17, 2009

Kansas City, MO- The NAIA release today the preseason top 25 poll for the 2010 season which included the LSUS Pilots ranked at the number 18 spot.

Just two teams from the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference were included in the poll. LSUS ranked 18th and William Carey University tied for 14th.

The Pilots have the opportunity to soar high in the poll as the season unfolds with the tough conference schedule. Belhaven College also received votes in this year’s poll to enter the season ranked 34th.

LSUS will face # 14 William Carey University for two three-game series. The first series will be on February 5th and 6th in Hattiesburg, Mississippi and the second series will be on April 2nd and 3rd at Pilot Field.

The Pilots will face Belhaven College on February 12th and 13th at Pilot Field and at Smith Wills Stadium in Jackson, Mississippi, on March 26th and 27th.

LSUS will begin the 2010 season on the road against GCAC opponent, Spring Hill College at Stan Galle Field, in Mobile, Alabama, on January 29th and 30th.

The first game at Pilot Field will be on February 12th at 6:30 p.m versus the Belhaven Blazers.

2010 NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Preseason Top 25 Poll – (Nov. 17)

RANK LAST WEEK^ SCHOOL 2009 RECORD* TOTAL POINTS 1 1 Lubbock Christian University (Texas) (23) 52-8 684 2 3 Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) 45-13 649 3 2 Oklahoma City University 53-9 642 4 5 Southern Polytechnic State University (Ga.) 53-10 609 5 10 Lee University (Tenn.) 53-14 568 6 7 Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) (1) 40-15 566 7 6 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) 44-14 561 8 8 Campbellsville University (Ky.) 39-12 503 9 13 Fresno Pacific University (Calif.) 39-21 497 10 11 Bellevue University (Neb.) 41-12 495 11 9 Tennessee Wesleyan College 44-15 476 12 15 Lindenwood University (Mo.) 45-12 397 13 12 University of British Columbia 38-13 371 T14 21 William Carey University (Miss.) 36-22 341 T14 18 Wayland Baptist University (Texas) 43-15 341 16 14 Union College (Ky.) 44-12 310 17 RV Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) 36-20 298 18 19 Louisiana State University-Shreveport 42-16 283 19 RV Cumberland University (Tenn.) 33-25 254 20 NR Warner University (Fla.) 37-18 245 21 16 Madonna University (Mich.) 39-12 242 22 17 Malone University (Ohio) 47-16 223 23 RV Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.) 37-23 195 24 24 Saint Xavier University (Ill.) 41-15 180 25 RV Northwood University (Texas) 36-19 132 Others receiving votes: Southern Nazarene University (Okla.) 124; Union University (Tenn.) 94; Texas Wesleyan University 72; Taylor University (Ind.) 62; Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) 59; William Jewell College (Mo.) 59; McKendree University (Ill.) 56; California Baptist University 45; Belhaven College (Miss.) 35; Jamestown College (N.D.) 30; University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) 24; University of Houston - Victoria (Texas) 24; Spring Arbor University (Mich.) 17; Bluefield College (Va.) 11; Nebraska Wesleyan University 8; Ohio Dominican University 8; Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.) 7; Oklahoma Baptist University 6; Biola University (Calif.) 6; University of St. Francis (Ill.) 3; Georgetown College (Ky.) 1; Indiana Institute of Technology 1; Lambuth University (Tenn.) 1; Mount Mercy College (Iowa) 1; Freed-Hardeman University (Tenn.) 1; Dickinson State University (N.D.) 1; Dakota Wesleyan University (S.D.) 1; Sterling College (Kan.) 1; Culver-Stockton College (Mo.) 1; William Woods University (Mo.) 1; Park University (Mo.) 1; Peru State College (Neb.) 1; University of Rio Grande (Ohio) 1; University of South Carolina - Beaufort (SC) 1 ^ Rating from the 2009 final regular season poll. * Final overall record from 2009 season, as submitted by the conference rater.

LSUS, BROUILLETTE AND ENNIS NAMED NAIA PRESEASON ALL- AMERICANS

NOVEMBER 09, 2009

Kansas City, MO- LSUS’ juniors, Andrew Brouillette and Justin Ennis, were named to the 2010 NAIA Baseball All-America Team which was announced on Friday afternoon. The LSUS Pilots look forward to the 2010 season and will have these preseason All Americans to make a run for another championship season.

Andrew Brouillette, a junior from Benton, Louisiana, had a banner year in 2009 leading the Pilots in numerous offensive categories with a .455 average, 209 at bats, 95 hits, 21 doubles, 21 homeruns, 100 RBI, 187 total bases, .895 and a .565 on base percentage.

Brouillette now holds the single season records at LSUS for batting average, homeruns, RBI, total bases, slugging percentage and on base percentage. He also set new Gulf Coast Athletic Conference records last year in RBI and slugging percentage. Brouillette now holds three LSUS career records for doubles, homeruns and RBI. His 100 RBI total from last season was not only good enough to break the school’s and conference’s record; he now holds the NAIA record for runs batted in in a single season.

Brouillette currently has a career batting average of .433, which passes Kevin Ross who finished with a career batting average of .382.

“With a player like Brou, you never have to question if he is giving you his all, he gives us all he has whether it’s at practice, a game or just working on his swing own his own,” said Head Coach, Rocke Musgraves. Justin Ennis, a junior from Livingston, Texas, was the go to guy on the mound last season for the Pilots as he lead the team in ERA with a 3.11, appearances with 18, 15 games started, an impressive 6 complete games, 107 innings pitched and 78 strikeouts.

Ennis’ top outings of 2009 included a complete game performance in a win against Belhaven College where he pitched 9 innings, allowed just three hits, 2 runs (1 earned), 1 walk and nine strikeouts. He would strikeout nine batters again against Spring Hill College just allowing two earned runs in eight innings pitched.

Ennis took the mound against the then ranked top 10, Bellevue University (Neb.) and led the Pilots to a win as he pitched a complete game allowing no walks while striking 5 Bruin batters.

“Justin has been a key aspect to our program since the first day he got here. We knew he was going to be something special by the way he handles himself on and off the field. He is another guy that always gives us his all,” stated Pitching Coach, Chris Bertrand.

The 2010 LSUS Pilots will open their season on the road in Mobile, Alabama, against the Spring Hill Badgers on January 29th, with the first pitch at 6 p.m.

2010 NAIA Baseball Preseason All-America Team (Nov. 6, 2009)

Name School Pos. Yr. Hometown Josh Ashenbrenner% Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) INF Sr. Kirkland, Wash. Ross Blondin^ Lubbock Christian (Texas) 3B Sr. Sonoma, Calif. Andrew Brouillette^ Lousiana State-Shreveport C Jr. Benton, La. Brian Burke$ Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) C Sr. Lancaster, Calif. Brian Chase$ Campbellsville (Ky.) 1B Sr. San Jose, Calif. Brice Cutspec^ Azusa Pacific (Calif.) INF Sr. Westminster, Calif. Oscar DePablos% Northwood (Fla.) OF Jr. Kissimmee, Fla. Tim Dunn^ Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) P Sr. Bardwell, Ky. R.L. Eisenbach$ Lubbock Christian (Texas) P Sr. Newark, Ohio Justin Ennis% Lousiana State-Shreveport P Jr. Livingston, Texas Jayson Koehn^ St. Xavier (Ill.) P Sr. Beecher, Ill. Jared Noteboom% Morningside (Iowa) 2B Sr. South Sioux City, Neb. John O’Brien% St. Xavier (Ill.) SS Sr. Lake Zurich, Ill. Tyler Tamayose% William Woods (Mo.) 1B So. Lethbridge, Alberta Jono Waugh^ Southern Polytechnic State (Ga.) SS Sr. Oxford, Ala. Derek Weber% Mount Mercy (Iowa) P Jr. Waterloo, Iowa Justin Zinkovich^ Embry Riddle (Fla.) P Sr. Cocoa, Fla. ^ 2009 All-America First Team $ 2009 All America Second Team % 2009 All-America Honorable Mention

BRAVATA'S JERSEY DISPLAYED IN COLLEGE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME

SEPTEMBER 02, 2009

LSUS Pilot's sophomore outfielder from Baton Rouge, Brandon Bravata, set the national record for most hit by pitches in a single season during the 2009 season. This summer Bravata’s #23 jersey was shipped to Lubbock, Texas to be displayed at the College Baseball Hall of Fame showcase from the 2009 season.

The 2009 showcase of the collected memorabilia will travel throughout the United States through the course of the year, and then become a permanent fixture in the College Baseball Hall of Fame.

The old record was held by Jamie Tapp of Oklahoma City University whit 34 HBP’s during the 2002 season. Bravata surpassed Tapp with his 35th HBP on April 24, 2009 against the Spring Hill Badgers.

The most HBP’s in a single game for Bravata was three, which he did twice (1/23/09 @ Mobile, 3/21 @ LSUA).During the season, Bravata had a consecutive streaks of 6 games and 5 games of being hit by a pitch.

Brandon Bravata is the first player in LSUS history to have his jersey in any Hall of Fame and hold a national record, but he may not be finished at setting records. Bravata has a career total of 47 HBP’s which is over half way to the current record of 81 HBP’s in a career by Jamie Tapp of OCU 2000-2003.

Bravata needs only 35 more hit by pitches to set the national career records and he still has two seasons left to play. He would have to average 17.5 HBP for the next two seasons to break the record at which he had done just two months into the previous season.

Bravata’s record breaking season of HBP’s

Date Opponent # of HBP Total 1-23 University of Mobile 3 3 1-24 University of Mobile 1 4 1-30 LSU-Alexandria 2 6 1-31 LSU-Alexandria 1 7 1-31 LSU-Alexandria 1 8 2-4 Southern Arkansas University 1 9 2-7 Belhaven College 1 10 2-7 Belhaven College 1 11 2-13 William Carey University 1 12 2-14 William Carey University 2 14 2-17 Louisiana College 2 16 2-21 Tougaloo College 1 17 3-1 Bellevue University 2 19 3-7 Spring Hill College 1 20 3-10 Texas College 1 21 3-15 University of Mobile 1 22 3-15 University of Mobile 2 24 3-17 Southern Arkansas University 1 25 3-18 Louisiana College 1 26 3-21 LSU-Alexandria 3 29 3-28 Belhaven College 1 30 3-31 Texas Wesleyan University 1 31 3-31 Texas Wesleyan University 1 32 4-4 William Carey University 1 33 4-8 Univ. of Houston-Victoria 1 34 4-24 Spring Hill College 1 35 4-30 Spring Hill College 1 36 5-12 Southern Nazarene University1 37 5-14 Texas Wesleyan University 1 38

Four LSUS Baseball Players Receive All-Louisiana Honors

JUNE 21, 2009

Shreveport, La. - Four LSUS players were named to the Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana college baseball team Saturday with Andrew Brouillette picking up first team honors as a catcher, Brent Lavallee earning second- team honors as a utility player and pitchers Justin Ennis and John James leading the way on the second-team's pitching staff.

LSU’s College World Series baseball team dominated the special awards announced as part of the annual Louisiana Sports Writers Association All-Louisiana college baseball team.

Outfielder was named the Hitter of the Year in an extremely close vote that saw six different players receive votes. added state Pitcher of the Year to his Southeastern Conference honor and relief pitcher Matty Ott was named Freshman of the Year. , in his third year at LSU, was named the state Coach of the Year.

Louisiana Tech outfielder Devon Dageford, was named the Newcomer of the Year for first-year non-freshman Louisiana players.

The team and special award winners were selected based on nominations from Louisiana’s four-year colleges and universities. Voting was done by a panel of selected LSWA members. Statistics are through the end of conference tournaments only.

Schimpf edged out Dageford for the Hitter of the Year honor after a season in which he led the Tigers in home runs (17), hits (71) and slugging percentage (.626). Schimpf was a second team All-Southeastern Conference selection, adding 13 doubles, 1 triple and 17-of-24 stolen base attempts to his total.

Coleman was the only player named on every ballot submitted for the first-team received 20 of the 21 votes cast for Pitcher of the Year. The senior posted an 11-2 record through the SEC Tournament with a 2.84 ERA. In 98.1 innings pitched, he allowed 78 hits, just 31 earned runs with 101 strikeouts.

Ott, the co-freshman of the year in the SEC, earned state freshman honors as the Tigers closer, posting a 3-2 record with a 2.27 ERA in 32 appearances. He had 14 saves and 61 strikeouts in 43.2 innings. Ott tied the LSU single-season record for saves that was originally set in 1991, earning first team All-SEC honors. State newcomer Dageford, a junior college transfer, hit for a .385 average with a Tech single season total of 23 and 168 total bases. The outfielder drove in 68 runs in earning All-WAC First Team honors and well as All-WAC Tournament team.

Mainieri guided the Tigers to a 46-16 record through the SEC Tournament, leading the Tigers to the SEC regular-season title, the schools first since 2003 and its second straight SEC Tournament championship. The 2009 Tigers posted LSU’s best regular-season record (41-15) since 2004. LSU won it’s regional and super regional that it hosted to advance to the College World Series for the second straight year under Mainieri and advanced to the championship series that begins on Monday.

Joining Coleman and Ott as first-team pitchers are Conrad Flynn of Tulane and LSU’s with LSUS's Brouillette at catcher. Across the All-State infield is Sam Honeck of Tulane at first base, DJ LeMahieu of LSU at second, Ben Soignier of ULM at shortstop and Northwestern State’s Joe Urtuzuastegui at third.

With Dageford and Schimpf in the outfield are LSU first-round draft pick Jared Mitchell with the Tigers at DH and Chris Kersten of Louisiana Tech as the first-team Utility selection.

Brouillette was the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year for the Pilots, while Honeck (Conference USA) and Soignier (Sun Belt) were first team conference selections.

Ennis and James, who combined for a 22-2 record, highlight the second team with Justin Robichaux of Louisiana- Lafayette and Chad Sheppard of Northwestern State the other selections at second team pitcher with Taylor Freeman of McNeese the battery mate.

The second team infield features Justin O’Neal of Northwestern State and Demon teammate Chase Lyles at second with Tulane’s Josh Prince at short and UNO’s Nick Schwaner at third. of LSU, Victor Franklin of Southern and Jon Prevost of ULM comprise the second-team outfield with Alan Harris of UNO and Lavallee at Utility.

Pitcher Jarrett Malory of Southern and shortstop Nick Wade of ULM earned enough votes to be awarded honorable mention status.

LSWA All-Louisiana Baseball Team (Stats Through Conference Tournaments) First Team Pos/Name, School/Class/Hometown/Notes P/Louis Coleman, LSU/Sr./Schlater, Miss./SEC POY; 11-2, 2.84 ERA; 111 Ks P/Conrad Flynn, Tulane/So./Midland, Texas/8-3, 3.93 ERA, 58 Ks P/Matty Ott, LSU/Fr./Metairie, La./First Team All-SEC, 3-2, 2.27 ERA, 14 Sv P/Anthony Ranaudo, LSU/So./Jackson, N.J./Second Team All-SEC, 8-3, 3.29 ERA 124 Ks C/Andrew Brouillette, LSUS/So./Benton, La./GCAC POY, .455 BA, 95 H, 21 HR, 100 RBI 1B/Sam Honeck, Tulane/Sr./Austin, Texas/First Team All-CUSA, .313 BA, 65 H, 16 HR, 70 RBI 2B/DJ LeMahieu, LSU/So./Bloomfield Hills, Mich./.335 BA, 76 H, 4 HR, 33 RBI SS/Ben Soignier, ULM/Sr./West Monroe, La./First Team ALL-SBC, .376 BA, 85 H, 11 HR, 71 RBI 3B/Joe Urtuzuastegui, Northwestern St./Sr./Mesa, Ariz./HM All-SBC, .371 BA, 56 H, 8 HR, 45 RBI OF/Devon Dageford, Louisiana Tech/Jr./Beatrice, Neb./First-Team All-WAC, .385, 75 H, 23 HR, 68 RBI OF/Ryan Schimpf, LSU/Jr./Covington, La./Second Team All-SEC, .324 BA, 71 H, 17 HR, 56 RBI OF/Jared Mitchell, LSU/Jr./New Iberia, La./.326 BA, 60 H, 8 HR, 40 RBI, 30 SB DH/Blake Dean, LSU/Jr./Crestview, Fla./First Team All-SEC, .327 BA, 71 H, 14 HR, 62 RBI UT/Chris Kersten, Louisiana Tech/Sr./Kiowa, Kan./Second Team All-WAC, .372 BA, 71 H, 18 HR, 58 RBI Hitter of the Year – Ryan Schimpf, LSU Voting – Schimpf 7, Devon Dageford 6, Andrew Brouillette 3, Ben Soignier 3, Sam Honeck 1, Justin O’Neal 1 Pitcher of the Year – Louis Coleman, LSU Voting – Coleman 20, Conrad Flynn 1 Freshman of the Year – Matty Ott, LSU Voting – Ott 16, Jeremy Schaffer 2, Chad Shepherd 2, Brooks McMinn 1 Newcomer of the Year -- Devon Dageford, Louisiana Tech Voting – Dageford 12, Boomer Blanchard 3, Zach Osborne 2, Conrad Flynn 1, John James 1, Michael Thompkins 1, Chris Franklin 1 Coach of the Year – Paul Mainieri, LSU Voting – Mainieri 16, Wade Simoneaux 3, Roger Cador 2. Second Team P – Justin Ennis, LSUS, So., Big Sandy, Texas (9-1, 3.11 ERA, 78 K); John James, LSUS, Jr., Tucson, Ariz. (13-1, 5.77 ERA, 53 K; Justin Robichaux, Louisiana-Lafayette, Jr., Crowley, La. (3-3, 1.98 ERA, 38 K); Chad Sheppard, Northwestern State, Fr., Enterprise, La. (4-1, 2.34 ERA 10 SV, 43 K). C – Taylor Freeman, McNeese, Jr., Carney, Okla. (.333 BA, 65 H, 12 HR, 56 RBI). 1B – Justin O’Neal, Northwestern State, Sr., Ruston, La. (.373 BA, 11 HR, 52 RBI) 2B – Chase Lyles, Northwestern State, Jr., Plain Dealing, La. (.362 BA, 72 H, 14 HR, 47 RBI) SS – Josh Prince, Tulane, Jr., Sulphur, La. (.353 BA, 77 H, 6 HR, 31 RBI) 3B – Nick Schwaner, UNO, Jr., Slidell, La. (.332 BA, 12 HR, 53 RBI) OF – Mikie Mahtook, LSU, Fr., Lafayette, La. (.336 BA, 6 HR, 29 RBI); Victor Franklin, Southern, Sr., Houston, Texas (.331 BA, 11 HR, 47 RBI); Jon Prevost, ULM, Sr. Montreal, Canada (.332 BA, 15 HR, 52 RBI) DH – Alan Harris, UNO, Jr., Clinton, Miss. (.344, 9 HR, 44 RBI) Util – Brent Lavallee, LSUS, Sr., North Delta, British Columbia (.335 BA, 18 HR, 78 RBI) Honorable Mention P – Jarrett Malory, Southern; SS – Nick Wade, ULM.

Brouillette Named First-Team All-American, Lavallee and Ennis Earn Honorable Mention Honors

MAY 29, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. – LSUS sophomore catcher Andrew Brouillette was named a 2009 NAIA Baseball First-Team All- American on Thursday, as selected by the NAIA Baseball Coaches Association All-America Selection Committee.

The 2009 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year had a record-breaking season for the Pilots, hitting .455 at the plate, while slugging 21 home runs and driving in a NAIA-best 100 runs for the year. He led the Pilots and GCAC in batting average, home runs, RBIs, hits (95), doubles (21), total bases (187), slugging percentage (.895) and on-base percentage (.565). He also set seven different single-season school records (AVG, hits, HRs, RBIs, SLG%, OB% and total bases), three GCAC single-season records (HRs, RBIs and SLG%) and two LSUS career records (HRs and RBIs).

In addition to Brouillette, LSUS senior Brent Lavallee and sophomore Justin Ennis were selected as Honorable Mention All-Americans. Lavallee, a native of North Delta, B.C., capped off a stellar career with career highs in batting average (.335), HRs (18) and RBIs (78) in 2009. His 18 home runs and 78 RBIs ranked him second on the team and in the GCAC behind Brouillette. Lavallee, who was also an All-GCAC First Team selection this season, is currently ranked second on the all- time LSUS home run chart with 28.

Ennis, a left-handed pitcher from Big Sandy, Texas, once again proved to be a dominant force on the mound and the LSUS pitching staff’s workhorse in just his second season with the Pilots. He finished 2009 with a 9-1 win-loss record and a team-best 3.11 ERA. Ennis also led the Pilots in innings pitched (107), complete games (6) and strike outs (78). Through his first two seasons, he has posted a 16-4 overall record.

The All-America Teams consist of 17 members on the First Team, 17 on the Second Team and an Honorable Mention Team, which is limited to 34 players. The HM Team is not position-specific.

The 2009 NAIA Coach of the Year will be announced in early January at the ABCA Coaches Convention.

2009 NAIA Baseball All-Americans

First Team Player School Pos. Yr. Hometown Brent Weaver^ Oklahoma City 1B Sr. Midwest City, Okla. Brett Cook Wayland Baptist (Texas) 2B Sr. Kearney, Ariz. Jono Waugh Southern Poly (Ga.) SS Jr. Oxford, Ala. Ross Blondin Lubbock Christian (Texas) 3B Jr. Sonoma, Calif. Brice Cutspec Azusa Pacific (Calif.) INF Jr. Westminster, Calif. Andrew Brouillette LSU-Shreveport (La.) C So. Benton, La. Matt Powell Southern Nazarene (Okla.) C Sr. La Mesa, Calif. Will Stramp Lubbock Christian (Texas) OF Sr. Keller, Texas Julian Alvarez Lee (Tenn.) OF Sr. Boston, Mass. Sammy Lee Oklahoma City OF Sr. Ninnekah, Okla. Chris Schultz Purdue-North Central (Ind.) OF Sr. Elgin, Ill. Tim Dunn Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) P Jr. Bardwell, Ky. Justin Zinkovich Embry-Riddle (Fla.) P Jr. Cocoa, Fla. Jayson Koehn St. Xavier (Ill.) P Jr. Beecher, Ill. Micah Spencer William Penn (Iowa) P Sr. Modesto, Calif. Billy Vopinek Biola (Calif.) RP Jr. Bellflower, Calif. Kevin Orso Mobile (Ala.) DH Sr. Satsuma, Ala. ^ NAIA Player of the Year

Second Team Player School Pos. Yr. Hometown Brian Chase Campbellsville (Ky.) 1B Jr. San Jose, Calif. Ryson Mauricio Oregon Tech 2B Jr. Mililani, Hawaii Ryan Stovall Thomas (Ga.) SS Sr. Live Oak, Fla. Chris Curley Campbellsville (Ky.) 3B Jr. Ft. Mitchell, Ky. Josh Collazo Oklahoma Baptist INF Sr. Tampa Bay, Fla. Brian Burke Kansas Wesleyan C Jr. Lancaster, Calif. Matt Stanley Tennessee Wesleyan C Sr. Louisville, Ky. Kevin Leslie Faulkner (Ala.) OF Sr. Stone Mountain, Ga. Zane Williams Houston-Victoria (Texas) OF Sr. Devil's Pocket, Texas Cody Shields Auburn Montgomery (Ala.) OF Sr. Panama City, Fla. Sam Mercado Southern Nazarene (Okla.) OF Sr. Norwalk, Calif. R.L. Eisenbach Lubbock Christian (Texas) P Jr. Newark, Ohio Ray Maldonado Houston-Victoria (Texas) P Sr. Cuero, Texas Craig Westcott Belhaven (Miss.) P Sr. Chalmette, La. Ashur Tolliver Oklahoma City P Jr. Little Rock, Ark. Matt McCalley Berry (Ga.) RP Jr. Conyers, Ga. Nick Allaire Kansas Wesleyan DH Sr. Arvada, Colo.

Honorable Mention Team Player School Pos. Yr. Hometown Tyler Tamayose William Woods (Mo.) 1B So. Lethbridge, Alberta Brent Lavallee LSU-Shreveport (La.) 1B Sr. North Delta, British Columbia Chris Warters Lee (Tenn.) 1B Sr. Los Angeles, Calif. Joe Grinstead Union (Ky.) 2B Sr. Bowling Green, Ky. Jared Noteboom Morningside (Iowa) 2B Jr. South Sioux City, Neb. Frany Cruz Iowa Wesleyan 2B Sr. Toa Alta, Puerto Rico Tyler Moyneur Tennessee Wesleyan 3B Sr. Escondido, Calif. Thomas Englehardt Fisher (Mass.) 3B Sr. Bradford, Mass. Ryan Delgado Azusa Pacific (Calif.) 3B Jr. Upland, Calif. John O'Brien St. Xavier (Ill.) SS Jr. Lake Zurich, Ill. Jon Ubbenga William Jewell (Mo.) SS Sr. Enumclaw, Wash. Alex Hall Kansas Wesleyan SS Sr. Ogden, Utah Austin Adams Faulkner (Ala.) INF Sr. Millbrook, Ala. Josh Ashenbrenner Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) INF Jr. Kirkland, Wash. Jason Engleman Morningside (Iowa) C Sr. Hawarden, Iowa Leo Alvarez Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) C Sr. Miami, Fla. Jon Troutman Brescia (Ky.) C Sr. Owensboro, Ky. Chris Lowe Trevecca Nazarene (Tenn.) OF Sr. Goodlettsville, Tenn. Carlos Romero Mobile (Ala.) OF Sr. Arecibo, Puerto Rico Carey Crain Northwood (Texas) OF Sr. Mustang, Okla. Oscar DePablos Northwood (Fla.) OF So. Kissimmee, Fla. Sam Neal Lyon (Ark.) OF Sr. Pine Bluff, Ark. Josh Ehringer Union (Ky.) OF Sr. Somerset, Ky. Franky Busani Wayland Baptist (Texas) OF Sr. Mesa, Ariz. Sean Halton Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) OF Sr. Fresno, Calif. Kurt Steinhauer Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) OF Sr. Rolling Hills, Calif. Jon Swartout Tennessee Wesleyan P Sr. Allen Park, Mich. Chris Wedel William Penn (Iowa) P Sr. Wasco, Calif. Justin Ennis LSU-Shreveport (La.) P So. Livingston, Texas Eric Cordell Ottawa (Kan.) P Sr. Holton, Kan. Kelyn Shellenberger Fresno Pacific (Calif.) P Jr. Reedley, Calif. Kyle Medley Belhaven (Miss.) RP Sr. Springfield, Ky. Andrew Bovich Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) P Sr. San Clemente, Calif. Derrick Weber Mount Mercy (Iowa) P So. Waterloo, Iowa

Baseball Team Excels On the Field, In the Classroom

MAY 26, 2009

Shreveport, La. – The 2009 LSUS baseball team finished their season with an impressive 42-16 overall record, a No. 19 national ranking and another trip to the regional round of the NAIA National Tournament. But even more impressive than the wins on the field was the success of the team in the classroom during the spring semester. In a semester filled with extensive time demands for practices, games and travel, the 2009 Pilots managed one of their best showings in the classroom in the program’s history. Of the 36 student-athletes on the squad, 26 of them posted individual GPAs of 3.0 or better, while five players recorded a perfect 4.0.

“We are very proud of the effort our guys put forth in the classroom this past semester,” said LSUS Head Coach Rocke Musgraves.” “The spring is usually one of the toughest times for a baseball player to stay focused academically, especially with all of the time demands that are put on them. However, we challenged our players to not only be successful on the field, but in the classroom as well. ”

Fourteen players were also named to the 2009 All-GCAC Honor Roll, surpassing the mark of eleven players making the team in 2008.

In addition to the players making the grade, LSUS student-assistant coach Brent Porche represented the Pilot coaching staff with a 4.0 GPA.

4.0 GPA

Andrew Blubaugh, Andrew Brouillette, Seth Hartley, Bubba Jordan and Josh Todd

3.0 GPA or Higher

Craig Barnes, David Bradley, Grant Brandon, Turner Brasher, Brandon Bravata, Chad Cradeur, Frankie DeGraauw, Justin Ennis, Mason Free, Jeffrey Garidel, Kory Kottenbrook, JV Laffitte, James Landry, Brent Lavallee, Cody Marshall, Kyle Pearson, Scott Petroski, Robert Pharr, Ricky Sanders, Quinton Shamsabady and Gino Spratley

All-GCAC Honor Roll

Craig Barnes, Andrew Blubaugh, David Bradley, Brandon Bravata, Andrew Brouillette, Mason Free, Jeffrey Garidel, Bubba Jordan, JV Laffitte, James Landry, Scott Petroski, Quinton Shamsabady, Gino Spratley and Josh Todd

Baseball Eliminated from NAIA Tournament

MAY 15, 2009

Oklahoma City, Okla. – The LSUS baseball season ended at the hands of the Texas Wesleyan Rams on Thursday afternoon, as the No. 5 seed advanced to championship game of the NAIA Baseball Opening-Round Tournament with an 11-5 victory over the No. 2 seeded Pilots.

Texas Wesleyan scored eight runs over the first three innings before the Pilots finally got on the board with a single run in the fourth. The Rams big inning came in the top of the third when they plated five runs and knocked LSUS starter Scott Petroski out of the game, forcing the Pilots to go to their depleted bullpen early in the contest. The Pilots put two runs on the board in the bottom of the fifth on a Chase Wentz home run to cut the Rams lead down to 8-3, but they were unable to get any closer as the Rams added two more in the top of the sixth to push the game further out of reach.

Brent Lavallee, a senior from North Delta, B.C., had two hits to lead the Pilots in his final collegiate game. Lavallee was the only Pilot to register multiple hits in the contest as LSUS managed just seven hits in the game, while Texas Wesleyan pounded out 13 hits.

Kyle Harmon had a 3-for-4 afternoon at the plate for the Rams, including a home run and three RBIs.

With the loss, LSUS finishes their season with a 42-16 overall record.

Weather Delays Start Time

MAY 14, 2009

Texas Wesleyan and McKendree will resume their game at Noon today in the middle of the eighth inning. McKendree leads Texas Wesleyan 10-7 going into the bottom of the eighth inning.

The Pilots will play the winner of this game with the start time scheduled for 1:00 PM CST. Pilot fans can listen to the game live as always on teamline.cc.

LSUS has to win three games, two today, and one game tomorrow to advance to the NAIA World Series in Lewiston, Idaho.

Oklahoma City Defeats LSUS in Extras

MAY 13, 2009

Oklahoma City, Okla. – Oklahoma City’s Jason Machado hit a two-run double in the top of the tenth and the Stars went on to score four more runs and take a 14-10 extra-inning victory over the LSUS Pilots on Wednesday afternoon in the NAIA Baseball Opening-Round Tournament at Jim Wade Stadium.

LSUS scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth to send the game into extras, but their comeback attempt came up just short, sending the Pilots into the elimination bracket of the tournament.

Quinton Shamsabady hit two home runs for the Pilots, including a three-run shot in the big fourth inning for the No. 2 seed. Jeffrey Garidel homered to lead off the inning, as the Pilots scored six runs in the fourth to take an 8-2 lead.

However, the Stars scored eight unanswered runs of their own to go in front 10-8 heading into the Pilots’ half of the ninth inning. OCU’s Brent Weaver hit two home runs to lead the Stars, moving him just one homer shy of the NAIA single season record.

Shamsabady finished 3-for-5 with four RBIs to pace the Pilots. Garidel, Brent Lavallee and Stephen Hobbins also had two hits apiece for LSUS.

With the win, the Stars advance to tomorrow’s championship game at 2:30 P.M. while the Pilots will play in an elimination game at 11:00 A.M.

Pilots Advance With 8-5 Win Over Southern Nazarene

MAY 12, 2009

Oklahoma City, Okla. – No. 19 LSUS picked up an 8-5 victory over No. 22 Southern Nazarene University on the first day of the NAIA Baseball Opening-Round Tournament at Oklahoma City University.

Quinton Shamsabady launched a three-run homer with the game tied at four in the top of the sixth to give the Pilots a 7-4 advantage and the lead for good.

LSUS opened up the game’s scoring in the second inning on an RBI single by Jeffrey Garidel, but SNU scored two runs in the third and fourth innings to take a 4-1 lead over the Pilots.

The Pilots scored two in the fifth on a SNU throwing error and an RBI single by Brent Lavallee. Both runs came with two outs in the inning.

In the pivotal sixth inning, LSUS trailed 4-3 with two outs and nobody on base, but they rallied to score four two-out runs and take control of the game. Stephen Hobbins started the rally with a walk and later scored on a wild pitch before Shamsabady’s three-run shot over the fence.

John James won his 13th game on the mound for the Pilots, improving his record to 13-1 on the season, while Matt Morgal took the loss for Southern Nazarene.

Brandon Bravata, Lavallee and Hobbins each had two hits to lead the Pilots on the afternoon.

LSUS (42-14) will play again tomorrow afternoon at 2:30 in the winner’s bracket.

LSUS Opening Round Tournament Information

MAY 09, 2009

No. 19 LSUS will take on No. 22 Southern Nazarene University at 2:30 PM on Tuesday in the NAIA Baseball Championshp Opening Round Field 2 Tournament at Oklahoma City University.

All LSUS games will be broadcast over the internet via Teamline and LSUS play-by-play announcer Mark Cantrell. A live video feed is also available courtesy of Oklahoma City Athletics for a small fee ($7.95/day).

Box scores and recaps of all tournament games, along with the updated bracket can be found by visiting the Tournament Website.

Pilots Grab No. 2 Seed in Oklahoma City Regional

MAY 08, 2009

Shreveport, La. – The LSUS Pilots are headed to Oklahoma City for the NAIA Opening-Round Tournament as the No. 2 seed in the regional, where they will face No. 22 Southern Nazarane on Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 P.M.

Oklahoma City University hosts the NAIA Baseball Championship Opening-Round Field 2 Tournament, where five teams will compete for a NAIA World Series berth starting Tuesday at Jim Wade Stadium.

Second-ranked OCU, No. 19 LSUS, No. 22 Southern Nazarene, McKendree (Ill.) and Texas Wesleyan comprise the teams in the double-elimination tournament.

OCU (48-7) will be led by Sooner Athletic Conference player of the year Brent Weaver, a first baseman who has hit .444 with an NAIA-high 35 home runs to go with 86 RBIs. Left-handed pitcher Ashur Tolliver has a 10-1 record with a 2.85 earned run average.

The Stars leads the NAIA in home runs (153), hits (734), runs (629), RBIs (586), batting average (.404) and slugging percentage (.756). OCU has already set the team NAIA single-season homer record, surpassing last year’s team total of 147. The Stars face the McKendree-Texas Wesleyan winner 6 p.m. Tuesday.

LSUS (41-14) has the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year in catcher Andrew Brouillette, who has hit .467 with 20 homers and 98 RBIs, and pitcher Justin Ennis, who has gone 9-1 with a 2.97 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 100 innings pitched. The Pilots, which finished second in the GCAC regular season standings, rank second in the NAIA in runs scored.

Southern Nazarene (37-13) makes its first national-tournament appearance in baseball. First-team all-SAC outfielder Sam Mercado tops Southern Nazarene with a .474 average, 16 homers and 68 RBIs, while first-team all-SAC pick Matt Morgal had a 10-1 record, 4.29 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 84 innings worked. McKendree (36-19-2) will be led by American Midwest Conference co-pitcher of the year Cale Johnson, who has a 6-3 record, 2.09 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 82 innings. Kory Peppenhorst has hit .389 with 18 homers and 71 RBIs for the American Midwest Conference champion. McKendree takes on Texas Wesleyan at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

Texas Wesleyan (39-20) boasts of all-Red River Athletic Conference outfielder Blake Walker, who leads the team with a .365 average, 10 homers and 47 RBIs. Joey Evans has gone 6-3 with a 3.15 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 80 innings for Texas Wesleyan, which gained an at-large bid into the tournament.

The nine opening-round tournament winners and host Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) will make up the field for the NAIA World Series, which will be May 22-29 in Lewiston, Idaho.

NAIA Championship Opening Round Field 2 Tournament At Jim Wade Stadium

Tuesday’s Games Game 1: McKendree (Ill.) vs. Texas Wesleyan, 11 a.m. Game 2: LSU-Shreveport vs. Southern Nazarene, 2:30 p.m. Game 3: Winner Game 1 vs. Oklahoma City, 6 p.m.

Wednesday’s Games Game 4: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 11 a.m. Game 5: Winner Game 2 vs. Winner Game 3, 2:30 p.m. Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Loser Game 3, 6 p.m.

Thursday’s Games Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Loser Game 5, 11 a.m. Game 8: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 7, 2:30 p.m., championship

Friday, May 15 Game 9: If necessary, noon

Belhaven Eliminates LSUS from GCAC Tournament

MAY 03, 2009

Hattiesburg, Miss. - LSUS' bid to win their fourth consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament came to an end Saturday night, as the Pilots dropped a 9-2 decision to Belhaven College.

Belhaven blew open a one-run contest with three runs in the seventh and eighth innings to knock the No. 2 seeded Pilots out of the tournament.

For the second straight day, the explosive LSUS offense struggled against Blazer pitching, as the Pilots recorded just seven hits and two runs on the night. Both of the LSUS runs came in the sixth, but the Pilots stranded two runners that inning and would never threaten again.

Shawn Diehl went a perfect 4-for-4 at the plate for the Blazers, while Craig Dean finished 3-for-5 with 2 RBIs for the winners. Lake Eiland also homered for the second straight day against the Pilots.

Kyle Hunt picked up the win on the mound for Belhaven, while LSUS' Kory Kottenbrook was tagged with the loss.

Quinton Shamsabady was the only Pilot to register multiple hits with two.

LSUS (41-14) will now have to wait until next Friday to find out where they will be headed for the Regional Tournament. The 45-team bracket will be released on Friday at approximately 5:00 PM.

Pilots Advance With 13-8 Win Over William Carey

MAY 02, 2009

Hattiesburg, Miss. - The LSUS Pilots avoided elimination in the 2009 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Tournament with a 13-8 victory over the top-seeded William Carey Crusaders on Saturday afternoon.

Jeffrey Garidel and Stephen Hobbins led the Pilots at the plate with two hits apiece and three RBIs, while leadoff hitter Brandon Bravata had a team-high three hits in the game

William Carey got on the board first with two runs in the second inning, but the Pilots used an eight-run third inning to take an 8-2 lead and control of the game.

After Carey scored two more in the top of the fourth to cut the Pilots lead down to just four runs, LSUS responded with three more runs in the bottom half of the inning to go ahead 11-4.

The Crusaders scored single runs in the fifth and the sixth innings, while LSUS added two more in the seventh. Trailing 13-6 entering the final frame, WCU loaded the bases with no outs, but only came up with two runs in the innings as the Pilots hung on for the victory.

LSUS starter John James recorded his 12th victory of the season, throwing five innings and allowing five runs - only two of which were earned.

With the win, LSUS knocked out the No. 1 seed and now advances to face Belhaven College in a 7:00 PM contest later tonight. Belhaven defeated the Pilots 7-0 on Friday night and is the only undefeated team remaining in the tournament.

Belhaven Blanks LSUS in GCAC Tournament

MAY 02, 2009

Hattiesburg, Miss. - Belhaven's Craig Westcott fanned 14 Pilot batters as the Blazers blanked LSUS in the second round of the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference tournament 7-0. The Blazers got on the board with a run in the bottom of the second on an RBI single off the bat of Craig Dean. Belhaven struck for two more runs in the bottom of the third on a pair of RBI doubles. Westcott helped himself when he drove the ball to the warning track in straight away center field. Timmy Foster followed with a two bagger of his own with a double to deep left center to make the score 3-0 Blazers.

Belhaven tallied a run for the third consecutive inning when they added to their lead with an RBI double by Lake Eiland who has been swinging a hot bat for the Blazers.

Belhaven then tacked on some insurance runs in the eighth when Chanse Cooper tripled home Shawn Diehl to start the inning. The Blazers then put runners on the corners with one out and plated the second run of the inning came home when Mark Gray got in a run down allowing Cooper to score from third. Foster then capped the inning off with a solo home run to left field to putting the Blazers up 7-0.

Westcott closed the door in the ninth to complete the contest and secure the victory for Belhaven. Westcott held the explosive LSUS offense to four hits and walked just one in route to an 11-3 record on the mound.

Turner Brasher suffered the loss for the Pilots allowing four runs on five hits in 3.1 innings of work.

Foster led the Belhaven offense with two hits and 2 RBI's with one coming on his team-leading 14th homer of the year.

LSUS will face regular season champ and tournament host William Carey in an elimination game at 12:00 PM on Saturday, and the winner of that game will face Belhaven at 7:00 PM Saturday night.

Pilots Shoot Down Badgers in GCAC Tournament Opener

APRIL 30, 2009

HATTIESBURG, Miss. – The 2009 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Baseball Tournament opened on Thursday with the LSUS Pilots downing the Spring Hill College Badgers by a score of 4-1 at Milton Wheeler Fielder.

LSUS struck first with a two-out, run-scoring single through the hole on the left side of the infield by centerfielder Brandon Bravata in the second inning off SHC starter Quinn Nichols. Pilot first baseman Brent Lavallee then belted a two-run homer to left in the third inning to build a 3-0 advantage for LSUS. Sophomore leftfielder Chase Wentz would add an RBI with a bad-hop single past SHC shortstop Ryan Cummings in the fifth inning before the Badgers answered with a run in the top of the sixth off an RBI groundout to second base by Blake Nelson.

LSUS lefthander Justin Ennis (9-1) started the game for the Pilots and did not allow a Badger past first base until catcher Bill Saliski opened the sixth with a double to the corner in deep right field.

Spring Hill brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the eighth inning, but Ennis got himself out of the jam by striking out Brad Holstein with runners on second and third base.

Both Ennis and Nichols went the distance for their teams with Ennis coming out on top after allowing just five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts. Nichols allowed eight hits, but only issued two walks with nine strikeouts.

At the plate, the Pilots were led by Lavallee’s two hits and two RBI. Andrew Blubaugh also collected two hits for LSUS.

LSUS (40-12, 1-0) moves on to play in the winner of the University of Mobile and Belhaven College on Friday night, while Spring Hill (26-27, 0-1) will next play Friday at noon in an elimination game.

Brouillette Named GCAC Player of the Year

APRIL 30, 2009

Hattiesburg, Miss. - LSUS sophomore catcher Andrew Brouillette has been named the 2009 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Year as announced earlier today by the league's office.

Brouillette finished the regular season with a .476 batting average, 20 home runs and 97 RBIs. He led the entire country in RBIs during the regular season, while also posting team highs in batting average, home runs, hits (88), doubles (21), total bases (177), slugging percentage (.957) and on-base percentage (.577).

In addition to Brouillette, four other Pilots were selected to the All-Conference team. Brent Lavallee was picked as the top first baseman in the league, while outfielders Quinton Shamsabady and Brandon Bravata grabbed two of the four outfield spots on the team. Pitcher Justin Ennis rounded out the Pilots' selections, as he was the lone LSUS pitcher to be honored.

Lavallee, a senior from North Delta, B.C., hit .341 this season with 17 home runs and 71 RBIs. He is currently second on the all-time LSUS home run list with 27 career home runs.

Shamsabady had a stellar senior season at the plate and in the field, anchoring an LSUS outfield that was the tops in the league. He finished third on the team with a .357 batting average and second in runs scored (71) and doubles (18). Shamsabady holds the LSUS career record for doubles with 48. Bravata, who already made national news earlier this week with his NAIA record-breaking 35th hit-by-pitch, was named to the All-Conference team for the first time in his two-year career. The sophomore led the nation in runs scored during the regular season with 77, while leading the team in walks (45) and stolen bases (22). The Pilots' leadoff man hit .337 and had an on-base percentage of .551.

Ennis picked up this season right where he left off last year, as he had a dominating year on the mound in his sophomore season for the Pilots. Ennis posted a 9-1 record and a team-best 3.16 ERA. He also lead the team in strikeouts (65), innings pitched (91.1) and complete games (5).

The Pilots tied Belhaven with a league-high five selections on the All-GCAC team.

Brandon Bravata Breaks NAIA Hit-By-Pitch Record

APRIL 27, 2009

Shreveport, La. - LSUS sophomore Brandon Bravata has officially etched his name into the national record books, becoming the NAIA single-season leader in hit-by-pitches with his 35th HBP this past weekend, breaking the old mark of 34 which was previously shared by three different players.

In his final at-bat in Friday's 10-3 victory over Spring Hill, Bravata took a 1-1 pitch off his left shoulder, sending him into the record books and down to first base courtesy of a HBP for the 35th time this season.

Bravata had been sitting on 34 HBP's for six games before finally setting the new mark last Friday. His six games without a HBP was his longest stretch of the season between HBP's. He began the season being hit by a pitch 17 times in the first 16 games, and has consecutive game HBP streaks of four, five and six games this season.

In the season opener, Bravata tied the NAIA single-game record for HBP's with three versus the University of Mobile. He achieved the same feat on March 21 when he was hit three times against LSU-Alexandria, and he has been hit by a pitch more than once in seven games.

Bravata has been the ultimate leadoff man this year, hitting at a .337 clip and helping lead the Pilots to a 39-12 regular season record. In addition to breaking the national record for HBP's, he also leads the nation in runs scored with 76 and is the LSUS team leader in stolen bases (22) and walks (45).

Bravata is the first player in LSUS history (all sports) to become a national record holder.

Pilots Split With Spring Hill

APRIL 25, 2009

Mobile, Ala. - LSUS and Spring Hill split a pair of games in Saturday's doubleheader with the Badgers taking game one 11-9 and the Pilots rebounding for a 3-0 win in the nightcap.

In game one, the Pilots jumped out to an 8-4 lead after just three innings, but Spring Hill rallied for three runs in the 4th and four more in the 5th to take an 11-8 advantage.

In the crucial 5th frame, Spring Hill's Justin Harrison tied the game with a 2-out RBI single and shortstop Ryan Cummings followed with a bases-loaded hit-by-pitch to gave the Badgers the lead at 9-8.

Third baseman Brad Holstein then drove a 2-run single over the bag at second base to build a comfortable 11-8 advantage.

On the mound, SHC reliever Quinn Nichols (3-2) picked up the win in three innings of work giving up just two hits with no walks and two strikeouts. Scott Petroski (4-1) took his first loss of the year, also in relief.

Ryan Hall and Bill Saliski added two hits apiece as each blasted solo homers in the second inning for the Badgers.

Brent Lavallee, Kyle Lawrence and Quinton Shamsabady each had homeruns for LSUS in the loss.

The nightcap remained scoreless through five innings as LSUS starter Turner Brasher held down the Badger batters and Spring Hill's Todd Kline and Nick Clapper (4-7) combined to return the favor to the Pilots.

LSUS (39-12, 27-7 GCAC) finally cracked the scoreboard with a run-scoring double to left-center by first baseman Craig Barnes with two outs in the top of the 6th inning.

Solo homers by Brandon Bravata and Andrew Brouillette in the 7th and 8th innings provided for the final 3-0 score.

Brasher went seven innings with just three hits, six walks and four strikeouts and Richard Pharr took his first save of the year closing out the final two innings with two hits, no walks and a strikeout.

LSUS will meet Spring Hill (26-26, 15-21 GCAC) again on Thursday in the first round of the GCAC Tournament hosted by William Carey University in Hattiesburg, Miss.

The Pilots finished one-half game behind William Carey in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular season standings, and will enter the conference tournament as the No. 2 seed.

Pilots Sail Past Spring Hill, Bravata Breaks National Record

APRIL 24, 2009

Mobile, Ala. - LSUS starter Justin Ennis threw eight strong innings on the mound and junior Craig Barnes homered and drove in three runs to lead the No. 18 Pilots past Spring Hill College on Friday night.

Ennis struck out a season-high nine batters on his way to his eighth win of the season. He allowed just two runs on four hits in the game.

The Pilots broke the contest open with a six-run second inning, and they would never look back as they sailed to an easy victory over the Badgers.

Kyle Lawrence and Barnes added two-run homers in the fifth and ninth innings respectively, as the Pilots finished the game with ten runs on ten hits.

Barnes paced LSUS with two hits and three RBIs, while Lawrence and Andrew Brouillette also drove in two runs apiece for the visitors.

Quinton Shamsabady recorded two hits and an RBI, as he and Barnes were the only two Pilots to register multiple hits.

Sophomore Brandon Bravata become the NAIA's all-time single-season leader in hit-by-pitches with his 35th HBP of the season in the ninth inning, becoming the first LSUS athlete to hold a national record in any category.

With the win and a William Carey loss on Friday night, the Pilots now sit one-half game behind the Crusaders in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference standings with two games remaining.

No. 17 Pilots Earn Series Win Over Loyola

APRIL 19, 2009

*Story Courtesy of the Loyola Sports Information Office

Westwego, La. - No. 17 LSUS hit five home runs, including two by Chase Wentz, en route to a 23-9 run-rule victory over Loyola University in eight innings on Sunday afternoon at Segnette Field.

Up 15-9 in the seventh inning, the Pilots ended the game by hitting four home runs to put Loyola away for good. Jeff Garidel started the barrage with a solo shot in the seventh. In the eighth, Kyle Lawrence led the inning off with a home run. NAIA National Player of the Week Andrew Brouillette added a 3-run homer, and Chase Wentz made the score 23-9 with his own 3-run shot.

Loyola (11-34, 8-24 GCAC) hung around for most of the game, scoring at least a run in the first six innings. Slade Sanders put the Wolfpack up 2-0 in the second on a RBI single to right.

After loading the bases in the third, LSUS (37-11, 25-6 GCAC) responded with three runs after a bases clearing double by Garidel.

With the game tied at 4-4 in the fifth, the Pilots took control by scoring five runs, capped off by a 2-run shot by Chase Wentz to make the score 9-4.

Loyola got within two in the fifth after back-to-back home runs by Matt Wendt and Bryan Lavoie, but would not get any closer for the rest of the game.

The Pilots scored six in the sixth which included a RBI single by Kyle Pearson and a 2-run double by Lawrence. The Pilots then put the game away with the four home runs.

Scott Petroski (4-0) was the winning pitcher, going 2.0 innings in relief, giving up five runs on five hits.

The Pilots were led by Garidel with three hits with six RBI and Wentz with three hits and five RBI. Brouillette and Lawrence had three RBI each.

Bobby Alvarez (0-1) picked up the loss, giving up four runs on four hits in 1.0 inning pitched.

Lavoie was 4-of-4 for the day including his second homer of the season. Brooks McMinn had two hits and a RBI, and Wendt had two RBI for the Wolfpack.

LSUS is currently 1 1/2 games behind GCAC leader William Carey with just three games remaining in the regular season. The Pilots will conclude the conference schedule next weekend in Mobile with a three-game series versus Spring Hill College.

Pilots Split Saturday's Doubleheader With Loyola

APRIL 18, 2009

New Orleans, La. - The No. 17 Pilots and Loyola Wolfpack split a pair of games on Saturday with LSUS taking game one 11-1 and Loyola winning the second contest 10-8.

Game One - LSUS 11, Loyola 1

LSUS starter John James picked up his NAIA-leading 11th win of the season, while four different Pilots drove in two runs to lead the visitors to an 11-1 victory over Loyola-NO in game one of Saturday's doubleheader. James threw four strong inning on the mound for the Pilots, scattering three hits and giving up just one run in the win.

Brandon Bravata reached base safely in all five plate appearances, finishing 2-for-2 with a double, two RBIs and three walks.

Craig Barnes, Chase Wentz and Kyle Lawrence also chipped in with two RBIs apiece, as LSUS won their sixth game in-a- row and fourth straight over the Wolfpack this season.

Game Two - Loyola 10, LSUS 8

Designated hitter David McChesney hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs to help Loyola pick up a split in Saturday's doubleheader with a 10-8 victory in game two.

The Wolfpack scored eight runs over the final two innings, including five in the bottom of the ninth with two outs to come from behind and knock off the No. 17 Pilots.

McChesney finished the game 3-for-5 with a game-high 5 RBIs and teammate Brooks McMinn had four hits in five trips to the dish to lead the Wolfpack.

LSUS' Brent Lavallee, a senior from North Delta, B.C., homered, doubled and drove in two runs for the Pilots in the loss. Lavallee now has 16 home runs on the year and 26 for his career, tying teammate Andrew Brouillette for the all-time LSUS career record for home runs.

LSUS starter Justin Ennis pitched seven strong innings before running into trouble in the eighth. He allowed five runs, three in the eighth, while giving up nine hits on the afternoon.

Andrew Laiche picked up the win for Loyola, while pilot reliever Richard Pharr was tagged with the loss.

LSUS (36-11, 24-6) is now two games behind William Carey in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference standings with just four more games remaining.

Andrew Brouillette Named NAIA Player of the Week

APRIL 14, 2009

Shreveport, La. - LSUS sophomore Andrew Brouillette has been selected as the NAIA Baseball Player of the Week, becoming the first baseball player in Pilot history to receive the award.

Brouillette, a 5-9 catcher from Benton, set several conference and school records for the No. 20 Pilots during a 5-0 week. In the 7-5 extra-inning win over Houston-Victoria, Andrew smacked a walk-off grand slam placing him with the most RBI in a single season in Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) history. On Saturday, he had a monster day hitting three home runs and going 4-for-4 with 10 RBI in the 13-2 win over Tougaloo (Miss.). In the process, he set the school’s season record for homers (18) and total bases (163).

He also now stands as the career LSUS leader in roundtrippers (26) and RBI (144) in just two years of playing as a Pilot. In national statistics, Andrew is first in RBI (91), hits (81) and total bases, and second in slugging percentage (1.001) and batting average (.500).

For the week, he hit 9-for-20 (.450) with nine runs scored, six home runs and 16 RBI. He also drew four walks and was 1- for-1 on stolen base attempts. He held a 1.350 slugging percentage.

Already the school's record holder in five offensive categories, Andrew is also on pace to break the LSUS single season record for batting average, hits, doubles, slugging percentage, and on-base percentage this season.

In addition to his National Player of the Week honor, he was also named the GCAC's Player of the Week for the fifth time this season.

Pilots Sweep Tougaloo, Brouillette Breaks Four More School Records

APRIL 11, 2009

Jackson, Miss. - LSUS sophomore Andrew Brouillette continued his onslaught of opposing GCAC pitchers and the LSUS record books on Saturday afternoon, as the No. 20 Pilots made easy work of Tougaloo College with a pair of 13-2 and 16- 3 victories to complete the three-game sweep over the Bulldogs.

Brouillete launched three homers and drove in ten runs in the first game, on his way to a 4-for-4 performance while breaking three school records in the process.

With his third home run of the game, Brouillette passed Kevin Ross on the LSUS single-season homerun list with his 17th of the year and Dusty Maddox and current teammate Brent Lavallee as the school's all-time career home run leader with 25. His ten RBIs in game one also made Brouillette the all-time LSUS career leader, passing the old mark of 136.

In addition to the Andrew Brouillette show in game one, LSUS pitchers Turner Brasher and Kory Kottenbrook proved to be a solid supporting cast by combining to throw a no-hitter on the mound for the Pilots.

The LSUS offense exploded for 16 runs in the twilight game of the doubleheader, as Brandon Bravata, Brouillette, Brent Lavallee, Chase Wentz and Kyle Pearson each recorded two hits in the contest.

LSUS hit six round-trippers in the game with Brouillette, Lavallee, Kyle Lawrence, Wentz all going deep once and the freshman Pearson sending two out of the yard

Wentz and Pearson each hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the third, as the Pilots opened up the game with six runs in the inning and four of those coming off a grand slam by Wentz. Lavallee, a senior from North Delta, BC, hit his 15th long ball of the season in the fifth and Pearson added a two-run shot in the inning for his second of the game.

Brouillette continued to make his mark on the record books in game two, becoming the school's single-season leader in total bases with his fourth home run of the day in the top of the seventh inning.

Brouillette, who is batting .500 through 45 games played this season, currently holds five school or GCAC records and is on pace to break four other LSUS single-season records this year.

The Pilots (35-10, 23-5) are one-half game behind William Carey in the GCAC standing entering the final two weeks of the regular season.

LSUS Coasts to Easy Victory Over Tougaloo

APRIL 10, 2009

Jackson, Miss. - LSUS starter Justin Ennis picked up his 7th victory on the year and the Pilots' offense plated 12 runs as they knocked off Tougaloo College 12-3 on Friday afternoon.

Ennis threw eight strong innings on the mound to improve to 7-1 on the season and Craig Barnes was 2-for-2 with 3 RBIs to lead the offense.

Kyle Lawrence and Quinton Shamsabady also finished with two hits apiece, including a homerun.

Freshman Mason Free finished out the game on the hill with a scoreless ninth inning, as the Pilots picked up their 33rd victory on the year.

LSUS and Tougaloo will go at it again tomorrow in a doubleheader that is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. Both of tomorrow's games can be heard live over the internet via Teamline and LSUS play-by-play announcer Mark Cantrell.

Brouillette's Walk-off Grand Slam Propels Pilots to Doubleheader Sweep Over Houston-Victoria

APRIL 08, 2009

Shreveport, La. – The LSUS Pilots snapped a season-long six-game losing streak on Wednesday night, picking up a pair of non-conference wins over the University of Houston-Victoria in a doubleheader at Pilot Field.

In game one, Andrew Brouillette launched a 3-2 pitch with two outs and the bases loaded over the scoreboard for a walk- off grand slam, as the Pilots rallied back from two down in the bottom of the eighth to end their losing streak with a 7-5 extra innings victory. The Pilots trailed the Jaguars 3-2 entering their final at-bat in the bottom of the seventh, but Brandon Bravata hit a double down the left field line to tie the game at 3-3 and send it into extra innings.

Houston-Victoria scored two runs in the top of the eighth and looked as if they were going to extend the Pilots losing streak to seven games before LSUS rallied to load the bases with two outs in the bottom of the inning, setting up Brouillette’s heroics.

With his walk-off grand slam, Brouillette became the all-time Gulf Coast Athletic Conference single-season RBI leader with 79, breaking the old record of 76 set back in 1986.

LSUS pitcher Scott Petroski picked up the win in relief for the Pilots, moving his overall record to 3-0 on the season.

In the twilight, LSUS used the momentum from a huge comeback win in game one and the long ball again to knock off the visitors from Houston, 8-4.

After falling behind 4-0 in the bottom of the first, the Pilots scored two runs in the third and then exploded for five runs in the fourth courtesy of back-to-back homeruns by Quinton Shamsabady and Brouillette. Shamsabady lined a three-run homer over the left field wall for his 7th of the season, while Brouillette tied Brent Lavallee for the team lead with his 14th blast on the year.

Craig Barnes closed out the game’s scoring in the bottom of the fifth with a solo bomb, his third of the season.

Despite a shaky start in the first inning, LSUS starter Colby Lehman settled down to earn his first victory of the year on the mound. Lehman allowed four runs, two unearned, in the top of the first, but he pitched three scoreless innings after that to pick up the win.

Freshman Cason Landrem looked outstanding on the mound over the final three frames, allowing just two hits in his outing out of the pen.

Brandon Bravata also moved one closer to setting the NAIA national record for hit-by-pitches in a single season, as he tied the all-time record with his 34th hit-by-pitch in the fourth inning.

LSUS (32-10) is currently one-half game behind William Carey in the GCAC standings, and the Pilots will travel to take on the Tougaloo Bulldogs this weekend for a three-game conference series in Jackson.

Carey Sweeps No. 5 LSUS in Saturday's Doubleheader

APRIL 04, 2009

Hattiesburg, Miss. - The William Carey Crusaders completed their three-game sweep over No. 5 LSUS with two wins in Saturday's doubleheader, winning game one 8-4 and game two 7-3. Game One - William Carey 8, LSUS 4

Steven Moore was 2-for-3 with 2 RBIs and Daniel Hall picked up his fourth win of the season on the mound, as the William Carey Crusaders knocked off the No. 5 LSUS Pilots 8-4 in game one of Saturday's doubleheader.

For the second straight contest, LSUS loaded the bases in the top of the first and jumped out to an early 1-0 lead over the Crusaders; however, the Pilots once again failed to capitalize on a huge opportunity to blow the game open early, as Hall struck out the final two batters to end the Pilot threat.

William Carey responded with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first and would never trail again in the contest.

Carey busted the game open in the third, scoring five runs on four hits while sending ten batters to the plate in the inning. The Crusaders were also aided by two LSUS errors that extended the inning and allowed them to score four two- out runs.

Freshman Kyle Pearson hit the first homerun of his LSUS career, launching a two-run homer over the left field wall in the fourth. However, the Pilots only managed five hits on the afternoon and dropped their fifth straight game on the season.

Pitcher John James (10-1) suffered his first loss of the season for the Pilots, allowing eight runs (four unearned) and six hits over 2.2 innings.

Quinton Shamsabady led the Pilots at the plate, going 2-for-2 with an RBI in the loss.

Game Two - William Carey 7, LSUS 3

Zachary Magee improved to 5-2 on the mound and Jason Terrell had three hits and four RBIs as the William Carey Crusaders defeated LSUS 7-3 to complete the series sweep over the No. 5 Pilots.

Carey scored two runs in the top of the first on back-to-back singles by Shannon Steed and Terrell, and the Crusaders never looked back as they cruised to another victory over the nationally ranked Pilots.

Magee threw eight innings on the mound for the home team, giving up just four hits and two runs in the contest.

Jordan Prout went 3-for-3 for the Crusaders and Heath Connor added two hits as Carey pounded out 12 hits in the second game of the doubleheader.

Andrew Blubaugh was the only Pilot to register multiple hits in game two, finishing 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Turner Brasher was dealt the loss on the mound for LSUS, as the Pilots lost their sixth straight game on the season.

With the sweep, William Carey took a 1/2 game lead over the Pilots in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference standings.

LSUS will return to action on Tuesday afternoon when they take on Houston Victoria in a doubleheader at Pilot Field. *Pearson's homerun in game one was the first of his career and it was the 66th on the season for the Pilots, setting a new LSUS single-season record for team home runs.

Pilots Drop Fourth Straight

APRIL 03, 2009

Hattiesburg, Miss. - The No. 5 LSUS Pilots fell for the fourth consecutive outing, as the William Carey Crusaders picked up a 2-1 victory over the visitors from Shreveport on Friday night.

Carey's Derek Thompson struck out 11 batters and allowed just six hits, while throwing a complete-game win on the mound for the Crusaders.

Justin Ennis suffered his first loss of the season despite going the distance and not allowing a single earned run in the contest. He allowed only five hits in the game, while Carey's two runs came in the fourth inning via two LSUS throwing errors.

LSUS jumped in front of the home team 1-0 in the top of the first on a two-out RBI double by senior Brent Lavallee. The Pilots looked to add a few more runs in the first, but Thompson got the Crusaders out of the jam with one of his 11 strikeouts to end the threat.

David Bradley was the only Pilot to finish the night with multiple hits, going 2-for-4 with a double in the loss.

LSUS (30-8, 20-3) currently holds a 1.5 game lead over William Carey (23-13, 19-5) in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference standings. The two teams will meet again in a pivotal doubleheader on Saturday, in which the Pilots will look to end their season-long four-game losing streak.

Texas Wesleyan Sweeps No. 5 LSUS

MARCH 31, 2009

Shreveport, La. - The Texas Wesleyan Rams upset No. 5 LSUS with a pair of victories over the Pilots in a non-conference doubleheader at Pilot Field on Tuesday afternoon.

Blake Walker went 3-for-3 with a home run and five RBIs to lift the visitors to a 7-4 victory in game one.

Freshman Kory Kottenbrook suffered his first loss of the season on the mound, allowing six runs over just four innings pitched. He had not allowed a single run over the first 9.2 innings pitched of his career prior to today's contest.

Stephen Hobbins, Brent Lavallee and Quinton Shamsabady each had two hits to lead the Pilots, but LSUS left 11 runners stranded on base and squandered several scoring opportunities in the contest. In game two, Mikey Horn launched a three-run homer in the top of the ninth as the Rams knocked off the Pilots for the second time on the day, 9-6.

Andrew Brouillette did his best to help the Pilots stay in the contest early, as he hit two, two-run home runs in the first and second innings to keep the Pilots within striking distance of the Rams. With his four RBIs, Brouillette passed Gary Moreas and became the school's all-time single-season RBI leader with 71.

Trailing 6-4 in the bottom of the fifth, LSUS tied the game on two-run double by Shamsabady. However, that was the last hit of the game for the home team, as LSUS was held hitless over the final four innings by Texas Wesleyan reliever Matt Chutchian.

Chutchian picked up the win for the Rams, throwing 4.1 innings without allowing a single hit.

LSUS (30-7) has now lost three games in-a-row for the first time this season, and they will look to end that streak when they face the William Carey Crusaders in a pivotal GCAC weekend series on Friday and Saturday in Mobile.

*Brouillette becomes school's all-time single-season RBI leader

Pilots Split Saturday's Doubleheader With Belhaven

MARCH 28, 2009

Shreveport, La. - The No. 5 LSUS Pilots split a pair of games versus the Belhaven Blazers on Saturday afternoon at Pilot Field, winning game one 13-8 and falling in game two 18-11.

Game One – LSUS 13, Belhaven 8

LSUS picked up their 30th win of the season, as they rallied back from an early 7-0 deficit to defeat the Belhaven Blazers 13-8 in game one of Saturday’s doubleheader.

The Pilots trailed 7-0 with two outs in the bottom of the fourth, but responded with 10 runs in the inning to take the lead and control of the contest. David Bradley got it all started with a walk on a 3-2 count and the Pilots offense exploded from there. An RBI single by Brandon Bravata plated the first run of the inning, and LSUS went on to score nine more runs in fourth on just five hits, with the two biggest blows coming on two-run triples off the bat of Andrew Brouillette and Chase Wentz.

Andrew Blubaugh launched a two-run homer in the fifth and Quinton Shamsabady hit a solo shot in the sixth to cap off the LSUS scoring in game one.

John James (10-0) recorded his NAIA leading tenth win of the season and Justin Ennis picked up his first save on the year, as the two combined to help lift the Pilots to their NAIA-best 30th win. Shamsabady finished 3-for-4 with 2 RBIs to lead the Pilots in game one.

*Notes: The Pilots are the first team in the NAIA to reach the 30-win plateau with the victory; John James becomes first pitcher in NAIA to win 10 games; Brandon Bravata added to his school and conference hit-by-pitch record with his 30th of the season, moving one closer to the NAIA national record of 34.

Game Two - LSUS 11, Belhaven 18

Designated hitter Timmy Foster homered three times and drove in seven runs for the Blazers, as Belhaven knocked off the Pilots 18-11 in game two.

Trailing 11-5 in the top of the seventh, the Blazers erupted for 11 runs on just four hits with a three-run homer by Foster sparking the Blazers' rally.

Brouillette led the Pilots at the plate in game two with a 4-for-5 performance including a home run and three RBIs.

Chase Wentz also homered in the second game, collecting a pair of hits in the twilight and driving in three runs.

Belhaven's Brian McCormick chipped in three hits for the winners, finishing the game with a home run and three RBIs for the visitors.

LSUS (30-5, 20-2) remains in first place in the GCAC standings with the split, and they will return to action on Tuesday when they take on the Texas Wesleyan Rams in a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 p.m at Pilot Field.

Friday's Baseball Game Rained Out, Senior Day Set for Saturday

MARCH 27, 2009

Shreveport, La. - Friday night's series opener versus Belhaven was washed out after heavy rains came pouring down in the third inning.

Seniors Jeffrey Garidel, Colby Lehman, Brent Lavallee and Quinton Shamsabady will be suiting up for their final conference home game on Saturday, as the Pilots face the Blazers to close out the home conference slate.

Saturday's doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 2:15 with the four seniors to be honored in a pre-game ceremony at 2:00.

Baseball Inks Two Local Products to Letter-of-Intent

MARCH 26, 2009 Shreveport, La. – The LSUS Pilots baseball team continues to tap into the Benton High School pipeline, as Head Coach Rocke Musgraves announced today the signing of current Tigers Logan Norris and Alex Saunders.

“We are extremely excited about the addition of both Logan and Alex to our program next season,” said Coach Musgraves. “Both of them love to compete and they thrive in big games. Those are the type of kids we love to go get here at LSUS.”

Norris sports a 2-1 record on the mound for the Tigers, while boasting a 1.69 ERA. He has struck out 29 batters in just 20.2 innings pitched.

Saunders is 1-1 so far this season and currently has a 2.66 ERA. He also excels at the plate, where he is batting .436 and has 17 RBIs.

Norris and Saunders will join three former Benton Tigers (Andrew Brouillette, Craig Barnes and Kyle Lawrence) on the Pilots roster next fall.

“We’ve had a lot of success with the Benton kids and we think these two will be to make an immediate impact on our program,” added Coach Musgraves. “Coach Bryant keeps churning out good players, and we are thrilled to add two more Tigers to our roster.”

Pilots Break Into Top 5 in Latest Top 25 Poll

MARCH 25, 2009

Shreveport, La. – The LSUS Pilots baseball team jumped up one spot in the latest NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll, entering this week’s rankings as the No. 5 ranked team in the nation.

LSUS (29-4) is off to the best start in the program’s history. They are coming off a week in which they knocked off the No. 1 ranked team in NCAA Division 2, while also picking up two key conference victories over the University of Mobile to improve their overall GCAC record to 19-1.

The Pilots received one first-place vote in this week’s rankings, and currently lead the NAIA in wins with 29.

The No. 5 ranking is the second highest ever for the Pilots, as they finished the 2004 season ranked No. 3 in the country.

LSUS will be back in action on Friday night when they host the Belhaven Blazers in a three-game conference series that features the top two offenses in the GCAC. The Pilots and Blazers are scheduled to play one game on Friday night beginning at 6:30 p.m. with a doubleheader on Saturday scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.

Brouillette Picks Up Second Consecutive GCAC Player of the Week

MARCH 24, 2009

Shreveport, La. – Following another outstanding week at the plate, LSUS sophomore catcher Andrew Brouillette picked up his second consecutive GCAC Player of the Week honor as announced earlier today (Mar. 24) by the league’s office.

Brouillette led the No. 6 Pilots to a 3-1 record on the week, including a 7-6 win on Tuesday over the No. 1 ranked team in NCAA Division 2. He collected 8 extra-base hits on the week with 7 doubles and 1 homerun. Brouillette also knocked in 8 runs to move his season total to 65 RBIs.

Brouillette currently leads the entire country in RBIs (65), total hits (62) and doubles (19), while posting a .534 average through the first 33 games.

The award was Brouillette’s fourth on the season and it was the ninth overall award for the Pilots so far this season.

Baseball Sweeps Saturday's Double-Dip Versus LSUA

MARCH 21, 2009

Alexandria, La. - The No. 6 LSUS Pilots picked up a pair of non-conference wins on Saturday afternoon, defeating Louisiana State University in Alexandria 13-6 and 12-1 at Bringhurst Field.

In game one, John James recorded his team-leading 9th win of the season and Andrew Brouillette had two hits and two RBIs to lead the Pilots to a 13-6 win over the Generals.

Brandon Bravata broke the school and conference single-season record for hit by pitches with his 27th of the season in the win.

Freshman Stephen Loupe also recorded the first hit of his collegiate career with an RBI single in the contest, while fellow freshman Kyle Pearson added a double and an RBI for the Pilots.

In the twilight game, Justin Ennis improved to 6-0 on the mound and Brouillette finished 2-for-2 with four RBIs as the Pilots picked up the sweep over the Generals.

Kyle Lawrence was 2-for-3 for the visitors with a triple, double and two RBIs.

Stephen Hobbins also double and drove in a run for the Pilots in the second game.

Brouillette finished the afternoon with four doubles to move his team-leading total to 19, while Bravata added two more hit by pitches to run his record total to 29. The NAIA national record for most hit by pitches in a single-season is 34. LSUS (29-4) will not return to the field until next Friday night when they take on the Belhaven Blazers at 6:30 p.m at Pilot Field.

No. 6 Pilots Fall to Louisiana College

MARCH 19, 2009

PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana College baseball team took a 7-6 win over the NAIA sixth ranked LSUS Pilots Wednesday night, who defeated the number one Division II team in the country (Southern Arkansas) on Tuesday night. Things started out shaky for LC (11-12) when Wildcat starter Scotty Jutze walked the bases loaded and gave up two runs on a single in the first inning to Chase Wentz.

In the second inning, Jutze loaded the bases again, but Dustin Tubre got LC out of the jam by striking out Brett Lavallee.

LC then tied the game at two on RBI singles by Andrew Shelton and Ryan Juneau.

LSUS (28-4) answered right back and took a 5-2 lead with three runs in the top of the fourth.

The game remained tied until LC scored a single run in on a sacrifice fly by David Roux. LSUS countered LC’s run with a run of their own in the top of the eighth.

In the bottom of the eighth, LC charged back and plated four runs to take a 7-6 lead. The first run came courtesy of a Jon Michael Kidd sacrifice fly. However, the big blow of the inning was when David Roux blasted LSUS reliever Mason Free’s first pitch over the left-centerfield wall for a three run home run.

Marcus Howell, who pitched the eighth, picked up the win for the Wildcats and Steven Jones picked up the save.

LSUS will return to the field on Saturday when they travel back to Alexandria to take on the LSUA Generals in a doubleheader.

*Story courtesy of the Louisiana College Sports Information Office

LSUS Baseball Defeats No. 1 ranked NCAA D-2 Southern Arkansas

MARCH 17, 2009

Magnolia, Ark. - The NAIA No. 10 LSUS Pilots picked up their 27th win of the season, knocking off the No. 1 NCAA-D2 Southern Arkansas Muleriders 7-6 in 12 innings on Tuesday night.

David Bradley smashed a game-winning double with two outs in the top of the 12th, knocking in Andrew Blubaugh all the way from first base to give the Pilots a huge win. Richard Pharr was outstanding in relief for the visitors, pitching four scoreless innings and earning his third win of the season. Pharr did not allow a single hit in his four innings pitched to help lift the Pilots to victory.

The reigning GCAC Player of the Week, Andrew Brouillette, carried the load offensively one again for the Pilots, finishing the night 3-for-6 with a homerun, two doubles and two RBIs.

Stephen Hobbins also added a two-run homerun for the victors. Hobbins two-run shot was the first of his collegiate career.

LSUS (27-3) is off to the best start in school history, and they will look to continue their winning ways on Wednesday night when they travel to Alexandria to take on Louisiana College.

Brouillette Named GCAC Player of the Week

MARCH 16, 2009

Shreveport, La. - LSUS sophomore catcher Andrew Brouillette picked up his third GCAC Player of the Week award this season, as announced by the league's office earlier today (Mar. 16).

Brouillette led the Pilots to three wins on the week, while recording seven hits and driving in 11 runs. The 2009 GCAC Preseason Player of the Year currently leads the Pilots in hitting with a .535 average, and is also second on the team in homeruns (8) and RBIs (57).

Pilots Sweep Sunday's Doubleheader Versus Mobile

MARCH 15, 2009

Shreveport, La. - The LSUS Pilots picked up a pair of wins in Sunday's doubleheader versus the Mobile Rams, winning game one 10-5 and game two 9-8.

Pitcher John James recorded his team-best eighth win of the season in the first contest, throwing six strong innings for the home team.

Senior Brent Lavallee continued his onslaught of conference opponents at the plate, going 4-for-4 with a homerun and five RBIs to lead the Pilots offensively.

Andrew Brouillette also added two hits in three RBIs in the win.

In game two, LSUS and Mobile were tied at 8 in the bottom of the eighth when sophomore Chase Wentz launched a homerun over the fence for the eventual game-winning hit and run. Brouillette carried the load offensively for the Pilots in second game of the twin-bill with a homerun and five RBIs.

Richard Pharr pitched the final 1.2 innings, and did not allow a single batter he faced to reach base, while picking up his second win of the season.

LSUS improved to 26-3 overall and 19-1 in GCAC action with the two wins.

The Pilots will be back in action on Tuesday when they travel to take on Southern Arkansas in Magnolia.

UPDATE: Mobile Series Time Changes

MARCH 13, 2009

Shreveport, La. - Due to impending bad weather in the Shreveport area over the next few days, LSUS has pushed back its series versus Mobile one day.

The Pilots will still play a doubleheader at the same time on Saturday, but Friday night's game has been moved to Sunday afternoon at 1:00 P.M.

Please check back with this website frequently as more changes could arise because of the weather.

*Saturday's game time has been pushed back to a 3:00 p.m. start time, and there will only be ONE game on Saturday. The two teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 1:00 p.m. (updated 3/13 at 10:30 a.m.)

*Saturday's game has been canceled, and the two teams will play a doubleheader on Sunday beginning at 1:00 p.m. (updated 3/14 at 2:30 p.m.)

Lavallee Wins Second Player of the Week Award

MARCH 11, 2009

Shreveport, La. - LSUS senior Brent Lavallee picked up his second GCAC Player of the Week award so far this season, announced by the league's office earlier today (Mar. 10).

Lavallee has been stellar at the plate so far this season for the Pilots, and his success continued this past weekend as he picked up six hits, three HR's and eight RBIs in his team's three-game sweep over Spring Hill College.

Lavallee currently leads the NAIA in HR's with 13 and RBIs with 53.

LSUS Baseball Wins Again

MARCH 10, 2009

Shreveport, La. - The LSUS Pilots continued their winning ways on Tuesday afternoon, defeating Texas College 11-6 in a non-conference game at Pilot Field.

With one of the best offenses in the country entering today's game, the Pilots expected to take advantage of a struggling Texas College pitching staff and a strong win blowing out to centerfield. LSUS clawed their way to five runs through the first four innings before finally exploding in the bottom of the fifth for four runs.

Texas College made the game interesting in the top of the fifth with three runs off of LSUS starter Mason Free, but back- to-back homeruns by Brandon Bravata and Andrew Blubaugh helped the Pilots increase their lead back to six runs. Bravata's long ball was a two-run shot, while Blubaugh followed up with an inside-the-park homerun.

After scoring two runs in the seventh, the Steers loaded the bases with just one out in the top of the eighth. However, LSUS reliever Turner Brasher came in and picked up two huge outs to end the threat.

Gino Spratley (2-1) picked up the win, but it was Brasher that saved the day on the mound for the Pilots. Brasher allowed just one hit in 1.2 innings pitched, while striking out two and walking none.

Andrew Brouillette had three hits and three RBIs to lead the Pilots offensively, while Chase Wentz, Jeffrey Garidel and Bravata each finished with two hits apiece. Wentz also homered in the contest.

The Pilots are now 24-3 on the season and will take on the Mobile Rams in a three-game conference series beginning on Friday night. However, due to the threat of rain throughout the rest of the week, game times could be changed. Please check back with this website frequently for any updates.

NOTE: Tuesday's Baseball Game Changes

MARCH 10, 2009

Shreveport, La. - The LSUS baseball team has changed their format for Tuesday's game versus Texas College, as the teams will play just one nine-inning contest with the first-pitch set to be thrown at 4:00 P.M.

The original schedule called for a doubleheader beginning at 4:00 P.M; however, due to the men's basketball team hosting the GCAC Tournament championship at 7:00 P.M. at The Dock and the threat of rain later in the evening, the two teams agreed to play just one contest.

Please check back with this website frequently over the next couple of days as the potential for heavy rains could alter this weekend's upcoming schedule.

Pilots Rally to Complete Series Sweep Over Spring Hill

MARCH 08, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. – Bubba Jordan’s pinch-hit, two-run RBI triple tied the game at 13 in the bottom of the eighth and Andrew Blubaugh doubled on the very next pitch for the game-winning hit and RBI as the No. 10 LSUS Pilots rallied to defeat the Spring Hill Badgers 18-17.

Quinton Shamsabady and Andrew Brouillette each had two-out RBI singles and Brent Lavallee launched his second homerun of the game, as the Pilots scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth to rally back from a 13-11 deficit and pick up the series sweep over the Badgers.

Brad Holstein and Keifer Gingles each homered in the ninth as the Badgers attempted to make a comeback of their own, but they came up one run short as freshman Mason Free came in and recorded the final out of the game to earn the save and leave the tying run stranded at third.

Spring Hill took an early lead with single run on the scoreboard in the top of the first, but LSUS exploded for five runs in the bottom half of the inning with four runs coming off of two two-run homers by Lavallee and David Bradley.

The Badgers responded with five runs of their own in the top of the second on just one hit in the inning. However, their lone hit in the inning was a big one as Ryan Hall drove a bases loaded, 1-0 pitch from LSUS starter JV Lafitte over the left field fence for a grand slam.

LSUS tied the game at 7 with two more runs in the bottom of the second, but the Badgers jumped back out in front in the fourth with three runs on three hits to take a 9-7 lead.

The Pilots went back ahead 10-9 in the bottom of the fourth with back-to-back two-out RBI base hits by Chase Wentz and Jeffrey Garidel. Wentz singled in Brandon Bravata for the first run of the inning, while Garidel knocked in Matt Lawrence and Wentz.

Spring Hill would not go away though, as they scored three runs in the top of the fifth to regain the lead from the Pilots. The Badgers collected four hits in the inning and scored all of their runs on three consecutive RBI hits by Justin Harrison, Holstein and Javier Cherta.

Quinton Shamsabady hit a solo shot in the bottom of the sixth to get the Pilots back to within two runs of the visitors before the Pilots made their final push in the eighth to get the win.

LSUS reliever Scott Petroski picked up his second win after tossing 3.1 innings out of the bullpen. Petroski was nearly flawless by retiring the first ten batters that he faced before running into trouble in the ninth.

Lavallee finished the game 3-for-4 with 2 HR’s and a game-high 5 RBIs, while Shamsabady had a game-high four hits to lead the Pilots. Garidel also recorded three hits for the home team in the contest and Blubaugh had multiple hits with two.

Harrison and Holstein paced the visitors with three hits, while finishing with three and four RBIs respectively.

LSUS (23-3, 17-1) is off to their best conference start in the history of the program, as they currently sit in first place in the GCAC standings with a three-game lead over William Carey.

Pilots Blast Badgers in Saturday's Doubleheader

MARCH 07, 2009

Shreveport, La. – The No. 10 LSUS Pilots started off their weekend series versus the Spring Hill Badgers with a bang, picking up a pair of wins in Saturday’s doubleheader at Pilot Field. Andrew Brouillette led the Pilots offensively, going 7- for-8 at the plate on the afternoon with a homerun and eight RBIs.

Game One – LSUS 14, Spring Hill 5

Andrew Brouillette, Quinton Shamsabady and Brent Lavallee combined to go 8-for-12 with two homeruns, two doubles and eight RBIs to lead the Pilots’ offense in the first game of the doubleheader.

Brouillette led the team with a 4-for-5 performance in game one, while Shamsabady and Lavallee each homered and drove in a team-high three runs. Lavallee’s homerun was his team-leading 11th on the season and increased his NAIA- leading RBI total to 48.

John James recorded his NAIA-leading 7th win of the season, and looked very solid on the mound after a shaky start to begin the game. The Badgers put five runs on the board off the LSUS starter in the first inning, but James would not allow another run over the next four frames.

Freshman Kory Kottenbrook closed the game out on the mound for the Pilots, giving up just one hit over two innings while striking out four Badgers.

Bubba Jordan doubled and drove in two runs, and Andrew Blubaugh also knocked in three runs for the home team.

LSUS scored in every inning but the bottom of the sixth, as they cruised to an easy 14-5 victory.

Game Two – LSUS 14, Spring Hill 2

Bubba Jordan homered twice and drove in four runs, and Andrew Brouillette homered and knocked in six runs as LSUS run-ruled the Badgers 14-3 in the second game of Saturday’s doubleheader.

Jordan and Brouillette were a combined 6-for-6 for the game with three double, three homers, and nine runs driven in between the two of them. Justin Ennis (5-0) earned his fifth win of the season, while allowing just two runs over six innings.

Brandon Bravata and Andrew Blubaugh also recorded multiple hits for the home team in the second game, while Jeffrey Garidel doubled and knocked in two runners in one of his two plate appearances in the game.

LSUS pounded out 11 hits as a team and scored a run in every inning, as they picked up their second easy victory of the day.

The two teams will meet again at Pilot Field on Sunday afternoon with the game scheduled to begin at 12:00 P.M., one hour earlier than the original start date.

Laffitte Named GCAC Pitcher of the Week

MARCH 04, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. - LSUS junior JV Laffitte was honored as the GCAC Pitcher of the Week after earning his first win of the season and picking up his team-leading second save last week.

Laffitte had a huge week on the mound for the Pilots, recording a save in Monday's win over No. 14 Texas Wesleyan and a win in his first start of the season versus Loyola. He allowed just 2 hits in 7 innings pitched on the week, while striking out eight batters.

Laffitte has not allowed a run in 12.1 innings pitched this season.

No. 10 Pilots Upset No. 6 Bellevue, Become First NAIA Team to Reach 20 Wins

MARCH 01, 2009

Shreveport, La. – Sophomore Justin Ennis pitched a complete game and was aided with two big innings by the LSUS offense, as the No. 10 Pilots knocked off No. 6 Bellevue 8-6 on Sunday afternoon at Pilot Field.

The Bruins, playing in their first contest of the season, came out of the gates on fire and put up four runs in the first inning. After the Pilots gave the Bruins two extra outs on a throwing error and a misplayed fly ball, Drew Farley connected on a two-run shot over the right field fence to give the visitors an early 4-0 lead.

LSUS tied the game in the bottom of the second with four runs of their own. Brent Lavallee doubled to lead off the inning and later scored on a triple off the bat of Chase Wentz who also scored on the play after a Bruin throwing error allowed him to advance home. Following back-to-back singles by Bubba Jordan and David Bradley, Andrew Blubaugh walked to load the bases. Brandon Bravata was then hit by a pitch for the 18th time this season, allowing Jordan to score from third. Quinton Shamsabady then delivered a single to left to score Bradley for the fourth Pilot run of the inning.

Bellevue tacked on single runs in the third and fourth innings to move back ahead 6-4, but the Pilots responded with another big inning in the bottom half of the fourth. LSUS loaded the bases with no outs as the first three batters reached base safely, and then Andrew Brouillette delivered once again with an RBI single.

Lavallee was hit by the next pitch to score the second run of the inning, and Jeffrey Garidel followed him up with a sacrifice fly to right. Chase Wentz then picked up his second hit and RBI of the game to drive in the Pilots final run of the inning and the game.

After struggling to get through the first four innings, Ennis put the Pilots on his shoulders and took over the game on the mound. He allowed no runs and just two hits over the final five frames to finish off the upset over the No. 6 Bruins.

Wentz had two hits and two RBIs to lead the home team, while Bravata and Lavallee each finished 2-for-3 with an RBI in the win.

Jake Jadlowski went 3-for-5 with an RBI and a run scored to pace the visitors. Matty Johnson and Louie Templeton also had multiple hits for the Bruins, each finishing with two apiece.

LSUS (20-3, 14-1) is off to one of the best starts in the program’s history, and became the first team in the NAIA this season to reach with 20-win plateau with a victory on Sunday. The Pilots will look to improve on their overall and Gulf Coast Athletic Conference record this upcoming weekend as the Spring Hill Badgers make a visit to Pilot Field.

Baseball Completes Sweep of Loyola

FEBRUARY 28, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. – No. 10 LSUS completed their three-game sweep of Loyola with 9-2 and 14-4 victories in Saturday’s doubleheader at Pilot Field.

Game One – LSUS 9, Loyola 2

LSUS pitcher John James picked up his NAIA-leading sixth win of the season and Andrew Blubaugh drove in three runs as the Pilots defeated the Wolfpack 9-2 in the first game on the afternoon.

Loyola jumped in front of the Pilots with a run in the top of the second, but the LSUS offense responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning and would never trail again in the contest. LSUS added two more runs in the fifth and put the game out of reach with a four-run sixth.

Jeffrey Garidel had a perfect game at the plate for the Pilots, finished 2-for-2 with two singles and two walks. Andrew Brouillette and Quinton Shamsabady each had two hits and an RBI in the win. Shamsabady doubled twice in the game, while Brouillette also collected a double.

Stephen Hobbins also drove in two runs in the game.

James threw six strong innings on the mound for the home team, allowing just two runs on three hits. Loyola only threatened one time in the contest, but James battled out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth to keep the Wolfpack out of striking distance.

Game Two – LSUS 14, Loyola 4

Brandon Bravata went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored and Mason Free pitched two scoreless innings in relief to earn his second win of the season as the Pilots run-ruled Loyola 14-4 in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader.

Loyola scored four runs in the top of the third on just two hits to jump in front of the Pilots 4-0 early. Matt Wendt drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single, and the other two runs came via sacrifice fly and a balk by Gino Spratley.

LSUS got on the board in the bottom of the fourth on a Chase Wentz two-run double, and Bubba Jordan followed up with an RBI single to drive in Wentz as LSUS cut the Wolfpack lead down to 4-3.

The Pilots took the lead in the fifth when they scored three more runs to go ahead 6-4. Bravata doubled to leadoff the inning and then Quinton Shamsabady reached safely on a bunt single. After an error allowed Andrew Brouillette to reach base safely, Bravata and Shamsabady both scored on back-to-back wild pitches by Loyola’s Andre Laiche for the fourth and fifth Pilot runs of the game. Garidel then hit a sacrifice fly to score the Pilots’ sixth run.

Loyola loaded the bases with one out in the top of the eighth, but LSUS reliever Scott Petroski got Brien Delahoussaye to ground out into an inning ending to end the Wolfpack threat.

LSUS scored eight runs in the bottom of the eighth to close out the game, with three runs coming on a three-run double off the bat of Stephen Hobbins and two runs on a single by pinch hitter David Bradley. Garidel and Brouillette also added RBIs in the inning, as the Pilots increased their lead to 13-4. Garidel scored the final run of the contest on a wild pitch.

LSUS (19-3, 14-1) will go for their 20th win of the season tomorrow afternoon when they take on the No. 6 Bellvue Bruins in a 3:00 P.M. match-up at Pilot Field.

LSUS Shuts Out Loyola in Lopsided Win

FEBRUARY 27, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. – No. 10 LSUS made easy work of the first game in a three-game series versus the Loyola Wolfpack, as the Pilots cruised to a 19-0 victory on Friday night. J.V. Laffitte was exceptional on the mound in his first start since the 2006 season, allowing just two hits and striking out seven batters. Laffitte, who sat out the majority of the 2007 and 2008 seasons following Tommy John’s surgery, has yet to allow a run in 12.1 innings pitched this season.

Laffitte was aided by an LSUS offense that scored 19 runs on 13 hits, including four home runs in the contest. Two big innings by the Pilots resulted in 15 runs as LSUS scored five in the first and ten in the fifth.

Jeffrey Garidel and Andrew Brouillette each homered and drove in four runs to lead the Pilots, while Chase Wentz and David Bradley also homered in the contest. Brouillette put the Pilots up 3-0 with his long ball in the first and Garidel hit a grand slam in the ten-run fifth. Wentz and Bradley each hit solo shots in the third and fifth respectively.

Brouillette finished the night 2-for-2 with two walks, and Andrew Blubaugh added two doubles and an RBI in the win. Matt Lawrence entered the game in the fifth and finished 1-for-2 with 3 RBIs.

With the win LSUS improves to 17-3 on the season and 12-2 in GCAC play. The Wolfpack are now 3-15 on the year with a 3-10 conference record.

The two teams will square off again tomorrow in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 P.M. John James is scheduled to throw in the first game for the Pilots with Gino Spratley wrapping up the series on the mound in game three.

Brouillette Earns Weekly GCAC Honor

FEBRUARY 26, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. - LSUS sophomore catcher Andrew Brouillette has been named the GCAC Player of the Week for the week ending Feb. 22, announced today (Feb. 26) by the league's office.

Brouillette led the Pilots to four victories last week, while smashing 3 home runs and driving in 15 runs. He hit for the cycle in the first game of the Tougaloo series and finished off the weekend with a six RBI performance on Saturday.

The 2009 GCAC Preseason Player of the Year has certainly lived up to that billing through the first month of the season. Brouillette currently leads the Pilots in batting average (.540), hits (34), doubles (9), triples (3), total bases (64), slugging percentage (1.016), and on-base percentage (.651).

The award is the second GCAC Player of the Week award for Brouillette this season.

Baseball Cracks NAIA Top 10

FEBRUARY 24, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. – LSUS boasts a top ten ranking in the first regular season 2009 NAIA Baseball Coaches' Top 25 Poll, coming in at the No. 10 spot.

The Pilots (16-3, 11-1) are off to one of their best starts in school history, and jumped up five spots after being ranked No. 15 in the Preseason Top 25 Poll.

Oklahoma City University holds the No. 1 ranking, as the Stars earned 527 total points and 16 of the possible 19 first- place votes. With a perfect 13-0 record thus far, OCU is seeking its 11th World Series appearance after making it to the 2008 semifinal round. This No. 1 mark is the first for OCU since a top billing in the 2006 Preseason Top 25 Poll (Nov. 16).

No. 2 Lee (Tenn.) notched two first-place votes and 513 total points. The Flames are the national runners-up and stand 12-1 this year under 2008 Rawlings-NAIA National Coach of the Year Mark Brew. Thanks to an 11-2 start, Point Loma Nazarene (Calif.) vaults to No. 3 after receiving votes in the Preseason Top 25. Spring Arbor (Mich.) received the No. 4 slot while Union (Ky.) stands at No. 5.

The defending national champions Lewis-Clark State (Idaho) fell from No. 1 in the preseason to No. 7 this time. The Warriors garnered the remaining first-place vote.

The poll was voted upon by a panel of head coaches representing each of the 24 conferences, independents and unaffiliated groups. The second regular season Top 25 poll will be announced on March 17.

For more information on NAIA baseball, please click here (http://naia.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/naia-m-basebl-body.html).

2009 NAIA Baseball Coaches’ Top 25 Poll – (Feb. 24)

RANK LAST WEEK SCHOOL (1st PLACE VOTES) 2009 RECORD* TOTAL POINTS 1 NR Oklahoma City University (16) 13-0 527 2 2 Lee University (Tenn.) (2) 12-1 513 3 RV Point Loma Nazarene University (Calif.) 11-2 455 4 5 Spring Arbor University (Mich.) 0-0 452 5 7 Union College (Ky.) 9-0-1 437 6 6 Bellevue University (Neb.) 0-0 427 7 1 Lewis-Clark State College (Idaho) (1) 5-3 424 8 8 Azusa Pacific University (Calif.) 13-1 407 9 NR Lubbock Christian University (Texas) 9-1 406 10 15 Louisiana State University-Shreveport 15-2 402 11 12 Southern Polytechnic State University (Ga.) 11-1 391 12 16 Fresno Pacific University (Calif.) 11-1 324 13 3 Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (Fla.) 7-5 312 14 17 Texas Wesleyan University 9-1 295 15 11 Cumberland University (Tenn.) 6-3 276 16 13 University of St. Francis (Ill.) 0-0 275 17 NR Wayland Baptist University (Texas) 15-3 259 18 18 Auburn University Montgomery (Ala.) 9-6 192 19 RV The Master's College (Calif.) 14-4 162 20 10 University of the Cumberlands (Ky.) 2-2-1 157 21 21 Warner University (Fla.) 7-3 152 22 22 Ohio Dominican University 0-0 124 23 RV Montreat College (N.C.) 6-2 101 24 RV University of British Columbia 8-1 92 25 RV Park University (Mo.) 6-0 81

Others receiving votes: Jamestown College (N.D.) 77; William Woods University (Mo.) 75; Univ of Science and Arts of Oklahoma (Okla.) 72; Lindenwood University (Mo.) 69; William Carey University (Miss.) 67; Trevecca Nazarene University (Tenn.) 63; California Baptist University 58; Madonna University (Mich.) 51; Northwood University (Fla.) 36; William Penn University (Iowa) 34; Campbellsville University (Ky.) 25; Belhaven College (Miss.) 15; Union University (Tenn.) 9; Savannah College of Art and Design (Ga.) 8; Bethany College (Kan.) 7; King College (Tenn.) 5; Lyon College (Ark.) 4; Dickinson State University (N.D.) 4; Northwestern College (Iowa) 4; Oklahoma Baptist University 3; Thomas University (Ga.) 3; Missouri Baptist University 1; College of Idaho 1; Taylor University (Ind.) 1; Tennessee Wesleyan College 1; Southern Nazarene University (Okla.) 1; Saint Xavier University (Ill.) 1; Berry College (Ga.) 1; Malone University (Ohio) 1; William Jewell College (Mo.) 1; Bacone College (Okla.) 1

Baseball Completes Sweep of Loyola

FEBRUARY 28, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. – No. 10 LSUS completed their three-game sweep of Loyola with 9-2 and 14-4 victories in Saturday’s doubleheader at Pilot Field.

Game One – LSUS 9, Loyola 2

LSUS pitcher John James picked up his NAIA-leading sixth win of the season and Andrew Blubaugh drove in three runs as the Pilots defeated the Wolfpack 9-2 in the first game on the afternoon.

Loyola jumped in front of the Pilots with a run in the top of the second, but the LSUS offense responded with three runs in the bottom of the inning and would never trail again in the contest. LSUS added two more runs in the fifth and put the game out of reach with a four-run sixth.

Jeffrey Garidel had a perfect game at the plate for the Pilots, finished 2-for-2 with two singles and two walks.

Andrew Brouillette and Quinton Shamsabady each had two hits and an RBI in the win. Shamsabady doubled twice in the game, while Brouillette also collected a double.

Stephen Hobbins also drove in two runs in the game. James threw six strong innings on the mound for the home team, allowing just two runs on three hits. Loyola only threatened one time in the contest, but James battled out of a bases-loaded jam in the sixth to keep the Wolfpack out of striking distance.

Game Two – LSUS 14, Loyola 4

Brandon Bravata went 3-for-4 with a double and two runs scored and Mason Free pitched two scoreless innings in relief to earn his second win of the season as the Pilots run-ruled Loyola 14-4 in game two of Saturday’s doubleheader.

Loyola scored four runs in the top of the third on just two hits to jump in front of the Pilots 4-0 early. Matt Wendt drove in two runs with a bases-loaded single, and the other two runs came via sacrifice fly and a balk by Gino Spratley.

LSUS got on the board in the bottom of the fourth on a Chase Wentz two-run double, and Bubba Jordan followed up with an RBI single to drive in Wentz as LSUS cut the Wolfpack lead down to 4-3.

The Pilots took the lead in the fifth when they scored three more runs to go ahead 6-4. Bravata doubled to leadoff the inning and then Quinton Shamsabady reached safely on a bunt single. After an error allowed Andrew Brouillette to reach base safely, Bravata and Shamsabady both scored on back-to-back wild pitches by Loyola’s Andre Laiche for the fourth and fifth Pilot runs of the game. Garidel then hit a sacrifice fly to score the Pilots’ sixth run.

Loyola loaded the bases with one out in the top of the eighth, but LSUS reliever Scott Petroski got Brien Delahoussaye to ground out into an inning ending double play to end the Wolfpack threat.

LSUS scored eight runs in the bottom of the eighth to close out the game, with three runs coming on a three-run double off the bat of Stephen Hobbins and two runs on a single by pinch hitter David Bradley. Garidel and Brouillette also added RBIs in the inning, as the Pilots increased their lead to 13-4. Garidel scored the final run of the contest on a wild pitch.

LSUS (19-3, 14-1) will go for their 20th win of the season tomorrow afternoon when they take on the No. 6 Bellvue Bruins in a 3:00 P.M. match-up at Pilot Field.

No. 15 LSUS Splits With No. 17 Texas Wesleyan

FEBRUARY 23, 2009

Fort Worth, Texas. - The No. 15 LSUS Pilots split two games versus the No. 17 Texas Wesleyan Rams on Monday afternoon, winning game one 10-6 and losing game two 3-0.

Pitcher John James recorded his NAIA leading fifth win of the season, as the Pilots picked up a win in the first game of the doubleheader. Brent Lavallee, who leads the country in RBIs and homeruns, belted his 10th long ball of the season and drove in two runs to lead the Pilots past the Rams.

Brandon Bravata also added two doubles and three RBIs, while Stephen Hobbins was 3-for-3 with 2 RBIs.

J.V. Laffitte recorded his second save on the year, as he slammed the door shut on the Rams in the final two innings.

In game two, Texas Wesleyan starting pitcher Joey Evans shut down the Pilots high-powered offense to defeat LSUS 3-0.

Evans allowed just one in the contest, as LSUS was held scoreless for the first time since April of the 2007 season.

LSUS will return home for a weekend series at Pilot Field versus Loyola University of New Orleans beginning on Friday night at 6:30 P.M.

Pilots Sweep Tougaloo

FEBRUARY 21, 2009

Shreveport, La. - LSUS freshman Kory Kottenbrook allowed just one hit in his first career start, as the No. 15 Pilots defeated Tougaloo College 23-0 on Saturday afternoon at Pilot Field.

Andrew Brouillette had three hits, including a homerun, and six RBIs to bolster an LSUS offense that scored a season- high 23 runs. Brouillette also doubled twice in the contest.

Chase Wentz homered for the second straight game, while driving in five runs on the afternoon.

Freshman Stephen Hobbins added to the hit parade, with a pair of doubles and two RBIs in the win.

On the mound, Kottenbrook threw six innings, while striking out three Bulldog batters and walking none.

LSUS (15-2, 11-1) has now won six consecutive games and nine of their last ten, and is currently in sole possession of first place in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference standings.

The Pilots will travel to Fort Worth on Monday for a doubleheader versus the nationally ranked Texas Wesleyan Rams.

LSUS Takes Two from Tougaloo

FEBRUARY 20, 2009

Shreveport, La. - The No. 15 LSUS Pilots picked up two easy wins on Friday night, defeating the visiting Tougaloo College Bulldogs 17-7 and 17-2 in a doubleheader at Pilot Field. Game 1 - LSUS 17, Tougaloo 7 (5)

Andrew Brouillette hit for the cycle and Brent Lavallee was 3-for-3 with two homeruns and 4 RBIs to lead LSUS past Tougaloo in game one of Friday's double header.

Brouillette homered and tripled in the bottom of the fourth to complete the cycle, and finished the game with 5 RBIs as the Pilots cruised to an easy victory.

Quinton Shamsabady also chipped in offensively with a home run in the contest and 3 RBIs.

Andrew Blubaugh doubled and tripled to finish 3-for-3, as the Pilots pounded out 14 hits.

Chad Cradeur picked up his first win of the season on the mound for the Pilots.

Game 2 - LSUS 17, Tougaloo 2

Jeffrey Garidel and Chase Wentz each homered twice in the second game of Friday's doubleheader, helping the Pilots to a 17-2 win over the Bulldogs.

Garidel was 4-for-5 with four RBIs, while Wentz drove in three runs.

Andrew Brouillette kept his bat hot in game two, picking up two hits including a double and a triple, while also driving in a run.

Gino Spratley earned the win on the mound for the Pilots, allowing just one hit and striking out six batters in his four innings of work.

LSUS moves to 14-2, 10-1 on the season with tonight's wins, and they will take on the Bulldogs in the series finale on Saturday at 1:00 P.M.

Pilots Demolish Wildcats, 16-4

FEBRUARY 18, 2009

Shreveport, La. – Sophomore Andrew Brouillette homered, drove in three runs and scored four times as the No. 15 LSUS Pilots cruised to a 16-4 victory over Louisiana College on Wednesday night at Pilot Field.

The Pilots scored in all but two innings, including a five-run sixth and a four-run eighth to defeat the visitors from Alexandria and move to 12-2 on the season.

Five players recorded multiple hits for the Pilots on the evening, while seven of the nine hitters in the Pilots’ lineup drove in at least one run in the contest. Brandon Bravata, Jeffrey Garidel and Kyle Pearson each had three hits to lead the Pilots in the win. The freshman Pearson had his best night at the Plate in his brief Pilot career so far, falling just a homerun short of the cycle.

Senior Brent Lavallee joined Brouillette with a team-high three RBIs on the night.

Freshman Mason Free (1-0) earned the first win of his collegiate career, working three strong innings of relief out of the bullpen. Free allowed just one run on three hits, while striking out three Wildcats.

Shreveport-Bossier native Ryan Juneau, a former Parkway High School standout, led the Wildcats with two hits and two RBIs in the loss.

LSUS (12-2, 8-1) will face Tougaloo College on Friday night in the first game of a three-game conference series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 P.M. at Pilot Field.

Baseball Teams Up With Shriners Children's Hospital for 2009 Season

FEBRUARY 17, 2009

The LSUS Baseball program has teamed up with the Shriners Children’s Hospital for the 2009 season in an effort to raise money for a charitable cause.

During each home game at Pilot Field, fans have the opportunity to purchase raffle tickets in a 50-50 split-pot promotion with half of the money going to charity and the other half to the winner of the raffle.

Last weekend during the William Carey Series, LSUS welcomed Bo Boyd to Pilot Field for the ceremonial first pitch in Saturday’s doubleheader. Boyd, who has cerebral palsy, is an avid Pilots fan and was the Shriners Hospital “Volunteer of the Year” for 2008.

So far this season, the team has collected over $250 for the hospital through seven home games.

Raffle tickets can be purchased through the first four innings, with the split-pot winner being announced in the bottom of the fifth inning. Tickets are $1 for one ticket and $5 for ten tickets.

Don’t miss your chance to come out and support the LSUS baseball team, as well as help raise money for a good cause.

Tuesday's Home Baseball Game Moved to Wednesday

FEBRUARY 16, 2009

Tuesday night's home contest versus Louisiana College has been moved to Wednesday night due to impending bad weather in the area on Tuesday. First pitch is still scheduled for 6:30 P.M.

Pilots Take Two from William Carey

FEBRUARY 14, 2009

Shreveport, La. – No. 15 LSUS picked up two GCAC wins over William Carey on Saturday afternoon, defeating the visitors 6-4 and 18-6 at Pilot Field

Game One – LSUS 6, William Carey 4

Despite giving up four runs in the sixth inning, John James (4-0) pitched an outstanding game on the mound for the Pilots, going the distance to earn his fourth win of the season. James was backed offensively by senior Brent Lavallee who drove in a team-high three runs in the win.

Lavallee doubled in two runs with two outs in the bottom of the first, as the Pilots jumped in front of the Crusaders 2-0.

LSUS added three more in the third, knocking out Carey starter Ian Sharpe. Lavallee picked up his third RBI of the game with an RBI ground out, while Quinton Shamsabady and Stephen Hobbins each drove in a run with two-outs in the inning. Shamsabady singled in Josh Todd from third on line drive down the left field line, and later scored on a double off the bat of Hobbins to put the Pilots in front 5-0.

Carey threatened for the first time in the top of the six, loading the bases with two outs after back-to-back singles and a base-on-balls. David Trisler then made the most of the opportunity, smashing a 2-2 pitch over the right field wall for a grand slam and his first homer of the season.

The Pilots added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, as Andrew Blubaugh singled in freshman Kyle Pearson for the Pilots’ sixth run of the game. Pearson doubled with two-outs in the inning for the first hit of his career.

Blubaugh (2-for-4) and Hobbins (2-for-3, 2B) each finished with two hits to lead the Pilots.

James allowed just four hits in the contest, with all four runs coming on the long ball by Trisler. James struck out three batters and walked just one in the victory.

Game 2 – LSUS 18, William Carey 6

LSUS scored in all six innings they sent a batter to the plate, and freshman Cason Landrem earned the first win of his career, as the Pilots cruised to an easy 18-6 victory in game two.

After Pilots’ starter Turner Brasher worked his way out of a bases loaded jam in the top of the first, LSUS loaded them up in the bottom of the inning and took advantage of their opportunity to blow the game open early. With the first three batters reaching base safely, clean-up hitter Brent Lavallee made the visitors pay once again, lining a fastball into the left-field corner for a two-run double. Jeffrey Garidel then knocked in Andrew Brouillette on an RBI ground out, as the Pilots went ahead 3-0 at the end of one.

David Bradley singled to lead off the second inning for the Pilots, and Brandon Bravata would later knock him in on an RBI single just two batters later.

In the third, LSUS extended their lead over the Crusaders to 7-0 and opened the game up with three runs in the inning. Josh Todd scored on a passed ball for the first run of the inning, and then Bradley drove in two more runs with his second hit of the contest.

The Pilots kept things rolling in the fourth, scoring four more runs to increase their lead to 11-0. LSUS had just one hit in the inning, an RBI single by Kyle Pearson, but was aided by two Crusader errors that extended the inning.

Carey finally got on the scoreboard in the fifth with five runs on six consecutive hits off Brasher. David Trisler knocked in two runners on a two-out single, and Jason Terrell and Brandon Chretien added RBI singles as the Crusaders cut into the Pilot lead, 11-5.

LSUS loaded the bases again with no outs in the bottom of the fifth, and capitalized by scoring three runs in the inning. Garidel drew a bases loaded walk to score the first run of the inning, and Shamsabady singled on the very next pitch to drive in Brouillette. A Chase Wentz sacrifice fly scored the third run of the inning.

After Carey scored another run in the sixth, Blubaugh tripled to score Pearson from first putting the Pilots back up by nine. LSUS loaded the bases on back-to-back walks by Brouillette and Lavallee and Garidel singled to right to drive home Bulbaugh and Brouillette. The Pilots added their final run of the game on a passed ball, as they picked up an easy 18-6 victory in game two.

Garidel led the Pilots offensively in game two with two hits and four RBIs. Lavallee, Bradley and Pearson also had two hits for the home team.

LSUS will be back in action on Tuesday night when they take on Louisiana College at Pilot Field.

William Carey Defeats No. 15 LSUS in Wild Game at Pilot Field

FEBRUARY 13, 2009

Shreveport, LA. – On an extremely foggy night at Pilot Field, the visiting William Carey Crusaders scored six runs via fly balls that were lost in the fog, as they picked up a 9-3 victory over the No. 15 LSUS Pilots.

William Carey scored two runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings courtesy of RBI triples on three fly balls that were misplayed by the LSUS outfield. In the top of the seventh, WCU’s David Trisler popped a two out, two-strike pitch into shallow centerfield, but Matt Lawrence was unable to locate the ball amidst the fog, as Carey scored two runs to take their first lead of the game, 4-3.

WCU put two more on the board in the eighth, once again with a two-out triple on a ball that was lost in the fog by Lawrence. Jordan Prout lined Richard Pharr’s pitch into centerfield, scoring two Crusaders as the ball sailed over Lawrence’s head.

By the ninth inning, you could not even see the LSUS outfielders from the press box as the fog had become so thick, and William Carey extended their lead to 9-3 over LSUS as Jason Terrell tripled in two more runs on a fly ball to right field that was unable to be seen off the bat.

Derek Thompson pitched 7 1/3 strong innings for the Crusaders, holding a Pilots’ offense that is among the nation’s best to just three runs.

Pharr (0-1) suffered his first loss of the season, as the Pilots move to 9-2 overall and 6-1 in GCAC play. Pilot starter Justin Ennis tossed six innings, giving up just two runs on three hits.

Andrew Brouillette led the Pilots offensively, finishing the night 3-for-4 with a double. Andrew Blubaugh added two hits in the loss, as he and Brouillette were the only Pilots to record multiple hits on the night.

LSUS and William Carey will square off again tomorrow afternoon in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 P.M at Pilot Field.

James, Brouillette Earn GCAC Weekly Honors

FEBRUARY 10, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. - LSUS swept the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference weekly awards, as John James and Andrew Brouillette were honored as the GCAC Pitcher and Player of the Week.

James picked up his third win of the season on Saturday, pitching seven scoreless innings in a 9-0 victory over Belhaven. James allowed just one hit on the afternoon, while striking out three Blazers and walking just one.

Brouillette helped the Pilots to a 3-1 record on the week, and had a huge weekend at the plate versus Belhaven. Brouillette had 8 hits in the Belhaven series, including a homerun and 6 RBIs. He finished the week with a .563 average and currently leads the Pilots in hitting at a .515 clip.

Tonight's Baseball Game Postponed

FEBRUARY 10, 2009

LSUS' baseball game versus Southern Arkansas tonight has been postponed due to impending bad weather in Magnolia. The game has been rescheduled for March 17.

No. 15 LSUS Completes Sweep Versus Belhaven

FEBRUARY 07, 2009

Jackson, Miss. - The No. 15 LSUS Pilots completed a three-game series sweep over Belhaven College, picking up a pair of wins in Saturday's doubleheader.

Game One - LSUS 9, Belhaven 0

The Blazers didn’t have an answer for Pilot starting pitcher John James in the opening game of the double header Saturday afternoon. James went all seven innings allowing just one hit in route to his third victory of the season. Charlie Edwards delivered the only Blazer hit in the fifth inning when he sent a James fastball into the left center field gap for a double. Edwards ended up being stranded at third base and the only scoring threat by Belhaven went by the boards.

LSU-Shreveport got six of their runs in the third inning and set the tone for the rest of the game. Blazer starting pitcher Kyle Hunt got Quinton Shamsabady to fly out to begin the inning, but then Kyle Lawrence reached first when Shawn Diehl had a fly ball go in and out of his glove in what would prove to be a costly error. With runners on second and third, Hunt struck out Andrew Blubaugh and it looked like he might be able to work out of the jam. The Pilots then reeled off four straight hits and went up 6-0 on Belhaven.

LSU-Shreveport tacked on a run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to make the final score 9-0. Hunt (2-1) was saddled with the loss going three innings allowing six runs on five hits. However, none of those runs were earned due to the error by Diehl. One bright spot for the Blazers was Paul Faulkenberry who tossed three solid innings in relief giving up just one run on three hits.

Game Two - LSUS 19, Belhaven 18

Belhaven’s offensive attack got going in the second game of the day plating a total of 18 runs on 15 hits. The Blazers scored at least one run in each of the first six innings of the game.

Belhaven got on the board quickly in the bottom of the first inning plating two runs to grab an early 2-0 lead. Chanse Cooper and Timmy Foster came around to score on a double by Craig Westcott to put the Blazers on the board.

LSU-Shreveport came right back tallying six runs in the top of the second to jump in front 6-2. David Bradley hit a solo home run to get the scoring started and Andrew Brouillette capped off the scoring by blasting a two run homer over the left field fence. Belhaven also put a six spot on the board in the second inning with four hits of their own to take an 8-6 advantage.

Lake Eiland and Westcott each had two run singles in the inning, which provided the majority of the scoring. Pilot starting pitcher Turner Brasher was lifted after only 1.1 innings after having given up eight runs. After having set the Pilots down in order in the top of the third, Belhaven tacked on three more runs in the bottom of the inning. Courtesy runner Mark Gray scored from third base on a fielder’s choice by Chanse Cooper and then Lake Eiland came through with the big hit in the inning, crushing his first home run of the season over the left field fence to make it 11- 6.

The Pilots refused to go away by countering with four runs on three hits in the top of the fourth. The key hit in the inning came was a three run double by Jeffrey Garidel the put LSU-Shreveport right back into the game. The Blazers got a run back in the bottom of the fourth on Brent Hudson’s third home run of the season.

The Blazers plated four more runs in the fifth inning when Cooper came into score on a balk to begin the scoring. Craig Dean doubled in Westcott and Edwards cranked his second big fly of the year sending two more Blazer runs across the plate extending the lead to 16-10.

The Pilots got three runs in the top of the sixth and Belhaven responded with two more in the bottom of the inning and at that point the Blazers had a five run 18-13 lead. Unfortunately, Belhaven would be kept off the scoreboard the rest of the way.

LSU-Shreveport struck for four runs in the eighth and then completed the comeback with two more in the ninth. The winning run came home on a catchers interference call with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth.

The Blazers loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth with one out, but JV Laffitte struck out Fagan and Cooper to end the game.

*Story courtesy of the Belhaven Sports Information Department

No. 15 LSUS Knocks Off Belhaven

FEBRUARY 06, 2009

Jackson, Miss. - The Belhaven baseball team had their home opener spoiled by No. 15 LSUS Friday night at Smith Wills Stadium losing to the Pilots 7-2.

LSUS goes to 7-1 overall and remains unbeaten in conference play at 4-0 with the win, snapping the Blazers five game winning streak, as their record falls to 6-2 overall and 5-2 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

The Pilots jumped on the board in the top half of the first scoring two runs off of starting pitcher Craig Westcott. Brandon Bravata doubled down the left field line and moved to third on a passed ball. Andrew Brouillette singled up the middle to drive home Bravata to make the score 1-0 LSUS. Brent Lavallee then sent another ball into the left field corner to drive in the second run of the inning to make it 2-0. Belhaven countered in their half of the first when Chanse Cooper led off with a single and then stole second to get into scoring position. Shawn Diehl advanced him to third on a sacrifice bunt. Following a strikeout by Timmy Foster, Craig Westcott blasted a single into right field to bring home Cooper to trim the Pilot lead to 2-1.

Westcott worked in and out of some trouble in the top of the second to keep LSUS off the board. The Blazers knotted the score at 2-2 on an unearned run in the bottom of the second. Charlie Edwards reached base on an error by third baseman Stephen Hobbins and went to second on a passed ball by the catcher Brouillette. Edwards advanced to third on a groundout by Brent Hudson and scored on Brian McCormick’s ground ball to short.

The contest remained tied going into the top of the fourth when LSUS took the lead for good. David Bradley reached first after being hit by a pitch. Hobbins doubled down the left field line sending Bradley to third and then came home on a sacrifice fly Josh Todd to make it 3-2 Pilots.

The Pilots went on to add another run in the seventh inning and tacked on three more insurance runs in the ninth to secure the win 7-2.

Craig Westcott suffered his first loss of the season going the first six innings surrendering three runs on eight hits while striking out eight batters. Westcott went 1 for 3 at the plate with a single and a . Chris Bennett pitched three innings giving up four runs on four hits with three strikes.

Justin Ennis (3-0) got his third win of the season working all nine innings for the Pilots allowing only three hits and two runs.

LSUS and Belhaven will meet again tomorrow in a doubleheader beginning at 1:00 P.M.

*Story courtesy of the Belhaven Sports Information Department

SAU Defeats LSUS 12-10

FEBRUARY 04, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. – No. 15 LSUS saw its six-game winning streak come to an end Wednesday night, dropping a 12-10 decision to the No. 6 ranked team in NCAA Division II , Southern Arkansas University.

Southern Arkansas struck first with a three-run double in the top of the first, taking an early 3-0 lead over the Pilots. Pitcher Scott Petroski looked as if he was going to get out of a bases-loaded jam without any damage, but Brandon Graves lined a 1-2 pitch to the wall out in left field.

SAU put four more runs on the board in the bottom of the third via two hits, a walk and a costly error. Cannon Lester scored on a walk for the first Mulerider run of the inning, while the other two runs came on a two-out throwing error by third baseman David Bradley. Jeffrey Garidel doubled in LSUS’ first run of the game with two-outs in the bottom of the third, and pinch-hitter Stephen Hobbins continued the two-out rally with an infield single, scoring Brent Lavallee from third. Quinton Shamsabady kept things rolling with a three-run shot over the left-field fence, cutting the Mulerider lead down to just two runs.

LSUS took their first lead of the game in the fourth with three runs, going in front of the Muleriders 8-7. Lavallee doubled in the first run of the inning, while Garidel knocked in two runs on a misplayed fly ball by the SAU outfield.

After the Muleriders scored two in the fifth to regain the lead, LSUS answered with two more of their own on a Brandon Bravata RBI single and an RBI double by Andrew Blubaugh.

SAU added two more in the sixth and another run in the seventh, closing out the scoring in the contest and giving the Muleriders a 12-10 victory.

SAU’s Aaron Terry earned the victory out of the bullpen, while designated hitter Dane Lucas came in and pitched two scoreless innings to earn the save.

Gino Spratley (0-1) was tagged with his first loss of the season, allowing three runs in his only inning of action.

SAU had four batters finish with multiple hits in the contest, as Graves led the way with two hits and three RBIs for the visitors. Curtis Gibson, Lucas and Lester also had two hits on the night.

Garidel was the only Pilot with more than one hit for the game.

LSUS (6-1, 3-0) will travel to Jackson, Miss., on Friday for a huge three-game conference series versus rival Belhaven.

Bradley Selected as GCAC Player of the Week

FEBRUARY 03, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. - LSUS junior third baseman David Bradley has been named the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week following his outstanding performance at the plate in last weekend's three-game series versus LSU- Alexandria.

Bradley drove in 10 runs on the weekend to lead a Pilots offense that scored 47 runs in the three games. Bradley homered twice in Saturday's doubleheader, while driving in six runs on the day. He also doubled and tripled in the series, as the Pilots moved to 6-0 on the year.

No. 15 Pilots Pick Up Second Straight Series Sweep

JANUARY 31, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. – No. 15 LSUS picked up their second straight series sweep, defeating LSU-Alexandria 13-1 and 19- 2 in Saturday’s double header at Pilot Field.

Game 1 – LSUS 13, LSUA 1

The Pilots picked up another easy victory in the early going of the 2009 season, run-ruling the Generals 13-1 in just five innings.

LSUA opened up the scoring in the top of the first on a solo home run by Jordan Marks, but LSUS answered with eight runs of their own courtesy of three walks, two hit batsmen, an error, two sacrifice flies and a three-run homer by Brandon Bravata.

The Pilots increased their lead to 9-1 in the second on a solo blast by Brent Lavallee, his sixth of the season.

LSUS added a single run in the bottom of the third on an RBI single by Andrew Brouillette and three more in the fifth on a three-run shot by David Bradley.

Bravata finished the game 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs, while Bradley drove in four and Lavallee two.

John James (2-0) was the winning pitcher for the Pilots, allowing just one run on three hits, while striking out five Generals on the afternoon.

Game 2 – LSUS 19, LSUA 2

For the second straight game, LSUA scored a single run in the top of the first to take an early lead, but the Pilots answered Brent Lavallee picked up right where he left off in game one, launching his seventh homerun of the season and second on the day, a two-run shot over the left-field wall, to put the Pilots in front 2-1.

After a scoreless second inning, LSUS tacked on one run in the third and put the game away in the bottom of the fourth with six more courtesy of a successful suicide squeeze by Quinton Shamsabady, a wild pitch, a hit-by-pitch, a walk and a two-run single by Lavallee, giving LSUS a commanding 9-2 lead.

Andrew Blubaugh continued the Pilot onslaught with a bases-clearing three-run double in the fifth and Lavallee nearly hit his second homerun of the game in, but the ball landed at the bottom of the outfield wall and wedged in between the wall and the grass for a ground-rule double, scoring Blubaugh from second. Following a wild pitch that advanced Lavallee to third, Jeffrey Garidel singled into center to score Lavallee.

With the Pilots holding a 14-2 advantage, David Bradley homered for the second time on the afternoon, driving in Garidel for the sixth and seventh runs of the inning. LSUS added one more run in the fifth via error. LSUS capped off the scoring in game two with two more runs in the sixth off the bat of Shamsabady. Shamsabady doubled down the third base line, scoring Andrew Brouillette and Bubba Jordan.

Shamsabady finished game two a perfect 3-for-3 from the plate with 3 RBIs. Lavallee drove in a team-hive five runs, while Bradley was the only other Pilot to register multiple hits with two.

Turner Brasher (1-0) earned his first win of the season in his Pilot debut, giving up just 2 runs on three hits. Gino Spratley, Richard Pharr and J.V. Laffitte each combined to pitch 2 1/3 scoreless innings of relief for the Pilots.

LSUS (6-0, 3-0) will return to the field on Wednesday when they face NCAA Division 2 opponent Southern Arkansas University.

Pilots Blast Generals, 15-1

JANUARY 30, 2009

Shreveport, La. – No. 15 LSUS improved to 4-0 on the season, winning their home opener 15-1 over LSU-Alexandria on Friday night at Pilot Field.

The Pilots plated two runs in the bottom of the first on a sacrifice fly by Craig Barnes and an RBI single by the reigning GCAC Player of the Week Brent Lavallee to take an early 2-0 lead.

After LSUA scored a single run in the top of the third, LSUS answered on another RBI single by Lavallee, giving the Pilots a 3-1 advantage.

Senior Jeff Garidel continued his early season hot bat with a solo shot in the fourth for his third homer of the season in just four games.

The Pilots opened up the contest in the bottom of the fifth, scoring five runs on just two hits. Following a leadoff walk by Brandon Bravata, Andrew Blubaugh lined a double into right center to score Bravata. LSUS then loaded up the bases on three walks before David Bradley cleared them with a three-run double to put the Pilots ahead 9-1.

LSUS added six more in the sixth with four runs coming off the bat of senior Quinton Shamsabady. Shamsabady belted a two-out grand slam over the left field fence, as the Pilots extended their lead to 15-1 at the end of six.

Justin Ennis (2-0) gave up just one run in five innings, earning his second victory on the year. LSUS reliever Scott Petroski closed out the game with a scoreless six and seventh innings, as the Pilots picked up their fourth consecutive victory to start the season.

LSUS and LSUA will play again tomorrow afternoon in a double header beginning at 1:00 p.m. at Pilot Field.

Lavallee Named GCAC Player of the Week

JANUARY 27, 2009

HATTIESBURG, Miss. - LSUS senior Brent Lavallee was named the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference Player of the Week, as announced today by the league's office.

Lavallee had a career weekend at the plate for the Pilots, as No. 15 LSUS swept No. 9 Mobile in a three-game conference series. Despite going 0-4 in the series finale, Lavallee still finished the weekend with 5 HR's, 12 RBI's and 7 runs scored. Lavs led a potent LSUS lineup that posted 44 runs in three games, while hitting a total of 13 homeruns on the weekend.

No. 15 LSUS Sweeps No. 9 Mobile

JANUARY 24, 2009

MOBILE, Ala—The visiting 15th-ranked LSUS baseball team picked up a three-game series sweet over the 9th-ranked Mobile Rams, as the Pilots rallied for an 8-3 victory Saturday.

Through the first four innings it looked like the Rams would bounce back from two lopsided defeats on Friday, as Spence McDonald allowed only 1 hit and 1 walk through 4 innings, as the Rams took a 2-1 lead when Jared Baria roped a RBI- double in the 1st and Matt Sparks blasted a solo homer in the 4th.

However, the Pilots' bats came to life in the 5th and 6th innings with a pair of 3-run innings. After Quinton Shamsabady tied the game with a RBI double in the 5th, a pair of hit-batsmen and a wild pitch led to two more LSUS runs to put the Pilots on top for good 4-2.

In the 6th inning, Chase Wentz continued the bottom-of-the-order dominance with a 3-run jack to put the game out of reach. Although the Mobile pitchers held the top six hitters in the LSUS lineup to 0 hits on the afternoon, the No. 7, 8 and 9 hitters combined to go 6-for-10 at the plate with 6 runs scored and 5 RBI. Jeffrey Garidel led the way for LSUS with a 4- for-4 afternoon.

Scott Petroski (1-0) picked up the win for the Pilots in his LSUS debut by scattering 7 hits over 6 innings of work and allowing 3 runs. McDonald (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing 5 runs on 3 hits in 5 innings of work.

LSUS (3-0, 3-0) will open up their home schedule next Friday when they face LSU-Alexandria at 6:30 p.m. at Pilot Field.

*(Story courtesy of the University of Mobile Sports Information Department).

No. 15 LSUS Doubles-Up No. 9 Mobile

JANUARY 23, 2009

MOBILE, Ala—The No. 15 LSUS Pilots picked up a pair of wins versus No. 9 Mobile to open the season Friday, as the Pilots swung hot bats to the tune of 36 combined runs in the double-header.

Game 1: LSUS 14 - Mobile 8

Big games from the Pilots’ Craig Barnes and Brent Lavallee, and a wild afternoon from the Rams’ pitching staff keyed the LSUS victory in Friday's opening game.

Barnes went 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of homers and 4 RBIs, while Lavallee went 3-for-5 with a pair of homers and 7 RBIs to pace the offense. Meanwhile, the Mobile pitching staff had trouble shaking off the rust, hitting eight batters and walking nine.

Carlos Romero and Kevin Orso turned in banner days at the plate for the Rams. Romero jacked a pair of home runs to move into a tie atop the career leader board for home runs at Mobile, while Orso went 3-for-4 at the plate with 4 RBIs.

John James (1-0) picked up the win for the 15th-ranked Pilots, scattering 7 hits over 6 innings and giving up 5 earned runs. Nelson Curry (0-1) was tagged with the loss after surrendering 8 runs and walking 6 in 3.2 innings of action.

Barnes started the game with a 3-run bomb in the 1st inning after a pair of hit-batsmen set the stage. But, the Rams fought back as Orso stroked a pair of run-scoring hits in the 1st and 3rd innings, and Romero hit his first home in the 3rd for a 5-4 lead.

The Pilots quickly responded by batting around in the 4th to retake the lead that they would hold the rest of the way.

Game 2: LSUS 22 - Mobile 1

Game two was not as close, as the Pilots used an explosive 1st inning to put the contest away. In that opening inning, the Pilots saw their first seven batters reach and three balls leave the yard, before the Rams could record an out. Twelve men came to the plate in all as LSUS took a 7-0 lead after 1 inning.

The Pilots continued to swing the bats, scoring 22 runs on 18 hits, including 7 homers, but they did not need to as lefty Justin Ennis shut down the Mobile bats with a complete-game 3-hit effort in the 7-inning contest.

Lavallee swatted 3 home runs in the game, finishing 6-of-10 with 12 RBIs and 5 homers in the double header. All nine Pilots' starters recorded at least one hit, with six recording multi-hit games. Mobile's lone run came in the form of a David Cramblitt solo homer.

The teams will finish the series with a 1:00 game on Saturday.

(Story courtesy of the University of Mobile Sports Information Department.)

Double Header to Begin at Noon on Friday

JANUARY 23, 2009

Due to Inclement weather pending in Mobile, AL on Saturday, the Pilots will now play the Double Header today with the first pitch scheduled for Noon Central. The third game of the series is scheduled for Saturday at 1 PM.

You can catch all of the action live on Teamline with Mark Cantrell and Chris Porche. The pregame show will begin on Friday at 11:40 AM.

LSUS Places Four Players on Preseason All-GCAC Team

JANUARY 23, 2009

Hattiesburg, Miss. - The No. 15 LSUS Pilots baseball team placed four players on the Preseason All-GCAC Team, with catcher Andrew Brouillette headlining the squad as the GCAC Preseason Player of the Year.

Brouillette is joined on the team by first baseman Craig Barnes, outfielder Quinton Shamsabady and starting pitcher Gino Spratley.

The Pilots open up the 2009 season on Friday with a double-header versus the No. 9 Mobile Rams. The Rams are coming off a record-setting season, winning 43 games and claiming the 2008 GCAC Championship

The two teams combined to place 11 players on the Preseason All-GCAC team, and the Rams' lineup boasts the reigning GCAC Player of the Year Jared Baria.

LSUS is the preseason favorite to win the GCAC as voted on by the coaches and sports information directors, holding the top spot in the 2009 GCAC Preseason poll with seven first-place votes to the Rams five.

All LSUS games can be heard live over the internet via Teamline and play-by-play announcer Mark Cantrell.

Baseball Set to Begin 2009 Season on Friday

JANUARY 21, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. – No. 15 LSUS will begin a grueling 2009 baseball schedule on Friday afternoon when they face the University of Mobile Rams in a three-game conference series at Mobile.

The 2009 schedule should present plenty of challenges for a veteran LSUS squad, beginning with a season-opening series versus last year’s Gulf Coast Athletic Conference regular season champions. The two GCAC preseason favorites will match up in the season opener on Friday (2:00 P.M) before squaring off in a double-header on Saturday afternoon. LSUS received 7 first-place votes in the GCAC preseason poll, while the Rams finished with 5 first-place votes.

The Pilots will open up the 2009 home schedule, which features 30 games at Pilot Field, on Jan. 30 with a non- conference weekend series versus LSU-Alexandria. NCAA Division II powerhouse Southern Arkansas will close out the four-game homestand for the Pilots on Feb. 4.

LSUS re-enters GCAC action on Feb. 6 when they travel to Jackson, Miss., to face the preseason No. 25 Belhaven Blazers in a series that could shape up the GCAC race early on in the season.

Following the Belhaven series, the Pilots begin their longest homestand of the season (Feb. 13-Mar. 14) and will play 19 of their next 21 games at the friendly confines of Pilot Field, including conference series with William Carey (Feb. 13-14), Tougaloo College (Feb. 20-21), Loyola-NO (Feb. 27-28), Spring Hill College (Mar. 7-8) and Mobile (Mar. 13-14).

Sandwiched in between those dates are non-conference home dates with Louisiana College (Feb. 17), Bellevue University (Mar. 1) and Texas College (Mar. 10).

LSUS will travel to No. 17 Texas Wesleyan on Feb. 23 for a double-header versus the Rams, with the Rams returning the home-and-home series on Mar. 31 at LSUS.

The Pilots play back-to-back games in Alexandria on Mar. 18 and Mar. 21 versus Louisiana College and LSU-Alexandria before jumping back into GCAC play on Mar. 27 and 28 at home against Belhaven.

LSUS closes out the season with 12 of their final 14 games on the road, while playing just one time during the month of April at home (Apr. 8 vs. Houston-Victoria). The Pilots will travel to William Carey (Apr. 3-4), Tougaloo (Apr. 10-11), Loyola-NO (Apr. 18-19) and Spring Hill (Apr. 24-25) to finish up the regular season.

The 2009 GCAC Tournament is scheduled for Apr. 29 to May 2 at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, where the Pilots will look to win their fourth consecutive tournament title.

All LSUS baseball games this season can be heard live over the internet via Teamline (http://www.teamline.cc/teampage?teamcode=7111), courtesy of play-by-play announcer Mark Cantrell. Cantrell is in his seventh season as the voice for LSUS baseball.

Please visit the LSUS Athletics home page or the LSUS Baseball home page on gamedays for links to the broadcasts.

LSUS Baseball Enters 2009 in Familiar Territory

JANUARY 13, 2009

SHREVEPORT, La. – The LSUS Pilots baseball team begins 2009 in familiar territory, entering the season as the No. 15 ranked team in NAIA Top 25 Coaches’ Poll and the No. 17 ranked NAIA team in Collegiate Baseball, while also being selected as the preseason favorite in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference.

LSUS, the 2008 GCAC Tournament champions and Region XIII Tournament Runner-up, was picked first out of seven GCAC teams in the preseason poll, as selected by the league’s coaches and sports information directors. The Pilots took the top spot with 57 votes, including seven first-place votes.

In 2008, LSUS Baseball compiled a single season school-record .746 winning percentage with a 47-16, while finishing the season ranked as the No. 18 team in the country, and reaching the No. 11 spot at one point during the year. The Pilots return seven position starters in 2009, including All-Conference and All-Region catcher Andrew Brouillette.

LSUS will open up the 2009 season January 23 on the road when they take on last year's regular season GCAC champions, the Mobile Rams.

2008 GCAC Preseason Poll 1. LSUS (7) 57 points 2. Mobile (5) 55 points 3. Belhaven 44 points 4. William Carey 36 points 5. Spring Hill 26 points 6. Loyola 22 points 7. Tougaloo 12 points