Pilots Fall to MidAmerica Nazarene in First Game of NAIA Opening Round

Shreveport, Louisiana --- The Pilots baseball team suffered another blow Monday evening as they fell to the Pioneers of MidAmerica Nazerene 6-4 in their first game of the tournament. With the loss the Pilots move to an overall record of 44-9 on the season.

The Pioneers rapidly took it to the Pilots as they accumulated two runs in the top of the first inning, using two sacrifice flies to score. The Pilots answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the inning as Aj Fritz knocked Trevor Burkhart in from third. The Pioneers added single runs in the third, fourth, and fifth innings to take a 5-1 lead over the Pilots. The Pilots struggled to get their bats going until the bottom of the eighth when a little light shined through. Fritz used a double to score the pinch running Cooper Huspen just prior to Vantrel Reed bringing him in to score as well. The Pilots ended the inning down by just two runs, 5-3, and with a little bit of hope. The Pioneers added their final run in the top of the ninth inning to once again put the Pilots down by three. Two runners on early in the bottom of the ninth gave the Pilots hope as they added another run to the board and had one left on the bases. The Pilot bats could not convert however and the Pilots ended the night on the sad side of a 6-4 loss. 

The Pilots will be back in action Tuesday May 16th as they take on the winner of the Dillard-McPherson match up. First pitch is set for 6:00pm CT from Pilot Field in Shreveport, Louisiana.

MORE INFORMATION

For more information and updates on LSUS Athletics please visit lsusathletics.com, 'like' us on Facebook at LSU Shreveport Athletics or follow us on Twitter and Instagram @lsus_athletics and @lsusathletics.