LSU SHREVEPORT BASEBALL PROGRAM ANNOUNCES 2024 SEASON SCHEDULE
Shreveport, Louisiana - The LSU Shreveport Baseball Program has officially released their 2024 Baseball Schedule. LSUS will enter the 2024 campaign with a National Pre-Season ranking of #5 in the country. Coming off of a tremendous 2023 47-10 overall record and A final #2 National Ranking. Despite earning Opening Round host honors, the Pilots fell one win short from making their third consecutive trip to the NAIA World Series.
The saying "records are meant to be broken", held very true for the LSU Shreveport Baseball program. Seeing in total 8 different individual/program records break throughout the course of the '23 season. Notable records include the Pilots 25-game win streak to end the season, surpassing the previous record of 23 games set in the 2022 season. Additionally, breaking the team batting average (.352), fielding percentage (.977), and opponent batting average (.206) records as well. Ryan Major showcased his exceptional skills by setting records for Single Season Batting Average, Single Season Hits, and Career Batting Average. Alex Gonzalez also made his mark with a record-breaking number of Single Season Appearances.
The LSUS Baseball Program also celebrated the individual achievements of their players. Following a 27-3 RRAC Conference Record, and their 13th straight RRAC Conference Championship - a total of 15 players were selected for the RRAC All Conference Teams. 8 players earning First Team Selections, 7 players receiving Second Team Selections, and 3 players being honored with Gold Glove Selections. The 2023 season success saw outstanding performances from Ryan Major, who was named the RRAC Player of the Year. Bobby Vath, who earned RRAC Pitcher of the Year, and Cameron Prayer - who was recognized as the RRAC Newcomer of the Year.
Furthermore, Head Coach Brad Neffendorf was named the RRAC Coach of the Year for the second consecutive year of the Pilot Baseball Program. Though, the LSUS Baseball Program's success extended well beyond the conference, as 3 Pilot Players were given All American Honors. Ryan Major (1st Team), Bobby Vath (2nd Team), and Gage Bihm (Honorable Mention).
Additionally, 3 more Pilot Players were given recognition for their efforts as Ryan Major, Bobby Vath, and Trevor Burkhart were selected for the Louisiana Sports Writers Association (LSWA) All-Louisiana Team. Yearly, the LSWA selects three All-Louisiana Team's for Collegiate Baseball. The teams are comprised of Players from not only schools all across Louisiana, but from all levels of collegiate baseball, this is a great honor.
Looking ahead, the Pilots will face one of the toughest schedules in the country, showcasing their commitment to competing against top-tier opponents. It is worth noting that out of the 26 different opponents, an impressive 17 are ranked or received votes in the National Coach's Poll, highlighting the level of competition the Pilots will face. Furthermore, the LSUS baseball team will have the opportunity to test their skills against some of the best teams in the nation. With 13 games scheduled against top 25 opponents and 9 games against top opponents within the Top 15. The Pilots are prepared to face formidable challenges throughout the season.
The 2024 season will kick off with a series of intense matchups, as LSUS will open 6 out of their first 10 games against top 25 opponents. Though, the Pilots will have the advantage of starting their season with six consecutive home games, providing an exciting opportunity for fans to support the team from game number one. Opening day is set for a thrilling doubleheader on January 26th, 2024, with the Pilots facing off against the formidable preseason #12 Webber International. The first game will commence at 3:00PM CTS, followed by an intense matchup at 6:00PM CTS against NCCAA National Champions Mid-America Christian, who had an impressive 39-win season in 2023. This doubleheader promises to be an action-packed start to the Pilots' season. To cap off week number one of the Pilots Baseball Season will have one more game on Saturday, January 27th at 3:00PM CTS against Webber International.
Moving into week #2 of the season, the Pilots will play Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (2/1-2/3).
On Thursday and Friday, the Pilots will face off against the nationally ranked #23 Reinhardt University in single games. This matchup will undoubtedly test the Pilots' abilities and provide an exciting challenge for the team on their home field. To close out week #2, the Pilots will have a 3:00PM CTS matchup on Saturday against Tabor College, a team that won an impressive 34 games in 2023 and received votes in the national 2024 Preseason Polls. This game will be another opportunity for the Pilots to demonstrate their skills against a strong opponent.
Week #3 of the season sends the Pilots to Sterlington, LA for the 4th annual Cajun Collision. This event promises to be a thrilling showcase of talent, as LSUS takes on perennial contender #18 Mobile University on February 8th and RV Oregon Tech and St. Thomas University on Friday and Saturday. The Pilots will also have the opportunity to face off against the formidable #2 ranked Georgia Gwinnett on Sunday, February 9th, concluding their Cajun Collision campaign. Overall, the LSU Shreveport Baseball Program is preparing to open up with one of the toughest opening stretches in the country when looking at strength of schedule and quality of opponent.
Though, the journey does not get any easier for the Pilots as they will begin rigorous conference play squaring off with Houston – Tillotson on February 16th & 17th for a three-game set. In the mist of conference play the Pilots have plenty of notable non-conference matchups in store. LSUS will make travel to ranked opponents #6 Tennessee Wesleyan in early March for a two-game set in early March and single game midweek against #21 Texas Wesleyan.
A very exciting piece of the 2024 LSUS Baseball Schedule takes place at the home of the NAIA World Series, where the team will travel to Lewiston, Idaho - to play a four-game matchup with nationally ranked #3 Lewis-Clark State College on 4/12-4/14. With a challenging schedule and a commitment to facing top-ranked opponents, the Pilots are ready to showcase their skills and determination on the field.
Coach Neffendorf had this to say about the upcoming schedule, "Preparation and giving ourselves a chance to be in position late in the year is something extremely important to us. If we are going to put out a roster of highly talented player's, then our schedule needs to mirror that and give them what they have came here to be a part of.
The 2024 schedule is quite possibly the most competitive it has ever been, and we are looking forward to the challenge. This schedule sees 10 teams who have made an appearance in the NAIA World Series and of those 10, four of them have played for a National Title with three of them winning it.
We are continuing to work to build this program off the many years of success to give ourselves a chance late to advance back to Lewiston and compete for a National Title, and there is only one way to prep for that and it is with a rigorous schedule like we have put together for this spring."
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