Badger News

The 2009 Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (GCAC) Baseball Tournament opened with the LSU-Shreveport Pilots downing the Spring Hill College Badgers by a score of 4-1 at Milton Wheeler Field.

LSUS struck first with a 2-out, run-scoring single through the hole on the left side of the infield by centerfielder Brandon Bravata in the 2nd inning off SHC starter Quinn Nichols (3-3), a freshman from Mobile's Faith Academy.  Pilot 1st baseman Brent Lavallee then belted a 2-run homer to left in the 3rd 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 5th inning before the Badgers answered with a run in the top of the 6th frame off an RBI groundout to 2nd base by Blake Nelson.

Lefthander Justin Ennis (9-1) opened the game for the Pilots and did not allow a Badger past 1st base until catcher Bill Saliski opened the 6th with a double to the corner in deep right field.

Spring Hill brought the tying run to the plate with two outs in the 8th inning, but Ennis got himself out of the jam by striking out Brad Holstein with runners on 2nd and 3rd 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.

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