Pilots Advance: LSUS Tops TAMUT 5-1, Sets Up Showdown with TAMU-Victoria

SHREVEPORT, La. -- Behind a complete-game gem from Brock Lucas and timely situational hitting, LSU Shreveport advanced in the RRAC Baseball Championship Tournament with a 5-1 victory over Texas A&M-Texarkana on Saturday at Pilot Field.

The Pilots (39-12) move on to face Texas A&M-Victoria on Sunday, May 3 at 3 p.m. in Shreveport, looking to reverse their fortunes against a Jaguars team that swept them in the regular season.

Lucas (10-2) was dominant from start to finish, tossing a complete game while allowing just one run on five hits with nine strikeouts and one walk. The senior right-hander faced 32 batters and kept the Eagles off balance all afternoon to earn the win.

LSUS got on the board early in the first inning as Spencer Sullivan ripped an RBI double to left field, bringing home Dorien Jackson, before Carlos Sanchez added a sacrifice fly later in the frame to make it 1-0. The Pilots extended the lead in the second when Carlos Vega singled up the middle to score another run and push the advantage to 2-0. 

The Pilots broke things open in the third inning, capitalizing on patience at the plate and key contact. With the bases loaded, Sanchez was hit by a pitch to force in a run, and Brett Justice followed with an RBI single to give LSUS a 4-0 cushion. LSUS added its final run in the fourth inning, continuing to apply pressure offensively and building a 5-0 lead.

Texas A&M-Texarkana (29-24) scored its lone run in the fourth inning on an RBI single by James Provencio, but Lucas limited the damage and took control from there, allowing just one hit over the final five innings.

At the plate, LSUS totaled five runs on four hits but made the most of its opportunities. Spencer Sullivan led the way, going 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored, while Carlos Sanchez drove in two runs. Brett Justice and Carlos Vega each added an RBI, and Nathaniel De La Cruz and Ashten Wong contributed key at-bats in the win, while Texas A&M-Texarkana starter Colton Sims (2-3) took the loss after allowing four runs (two earned) over 3.2 innings. He was followed by Tiernon Wolf, Ty Thomerson, and Andrew Ender, who combined to hold LSUS to one run over the final 4.1 innings.

LSU Shreveport advances deeper into the tournament and will look to continue its run on Sunday, May 3 at 3 p.m. against Texas A&M-Victoria at Pilot Field.

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