Top-Ranked LSUS Pilots Open RRAC Tournament Against No. 8 Seed Huston-Tillotson

SHREVEPORT, La. – The No. 1 ranked LSU Shreveport Pilots are set to begin their postseason run at the Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) Baseball Tournament, taking place May 1–4 at the Sterlington Sports Complex in Sterlington, Louisiana. LSUS, fresh off a flawless 47-0 regular season and a 30-0 sweep through conference play, will face No. 8 seed Huston-Tillotson University in the second game of the tournament on Thursday, May 1 at 5 p.m.

The Pilots, recently voted the No. 1 team in the final NAIA Baseball Top 25 Coaches Poll released Wednesday, completed a dominant regular season with a 3-0 series sweep over Jarvis Christian College, outscoring the Bulldogs 44-12 and racking up 49 hits across the series.

LSUS is led by Red River Athletic Conference Player of the Year Josh Gibson, who has posted video game-like numbers this season. Gibson enters the tournament with a staggering .441 batting average, 71 hits, 58 RBIs, a .545 on-base percentage, and a .671 slugging percentage in 161 at-bats.

On the mound, the Pilots boast the most dominant pitching staff in the NAIA. They lead the country in ERA (2.22), strikeouts (439), strikeouts per nine innings (10.93), and WHIP (0.96). The staff is anchored by RRAC Pitcher of the Year Isaac Rohde, who is 12-0 on the year with a 1.84 ERA, 0.69 WHIP, and 114 strikeouts over 88 innings pitched.

Their first-round opponent, Huston-Tillotson, enters the tournament after a 2-1 series win over LSU Alexandria. The Rams are led at the plate by Gary Wafford, who brings a .455 batting average, .570 on-base percentage, and .780 slugging percentage into the matchup. On the mound, HTU will likely turn to Steel Kupec, who holds a 6-4 record with a 6.29 ERA and 1.71 WHIP.

All RRAC Tournament games will be streamed live at: Sterlington Sports Complex All-Access

RRAC Tournament Schedule (All times local.)

The RRAC Baseball Championship is divided into two four-team brackets with double-elimination until the final two teams are determined. Those two teams will compete in one final championship game. Seedings are based on regular season conference records.

Bracket A
Thursday, May 1

Game 1: #4 Our Lady of the Lake vs. #5 LSU Alexandria, 1pm

Game 2: #1 LSU Shreveport vs. #8 Huston-Tillotson, 5pm

Friday, May 2

Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1pm
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5pm

Saturday, May 3
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 1pm
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 5pm

Sunday, May 4
Game 7: If necessary, 1pm

Bracket B
Thursday, May 1
Game 1: #3 Texas A&M-Texarkana vs. #6 Louisiana Christian, 1pm
Game 2: #2 Houston-Victoria vs. #7 Southwest, 5pm

Friday, May 2
Game 3: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2, 1pm
Game 4: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2, 5pm

Saturday, May 3
Game 5: Loser Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3, 1pm
Game 6: Winner Game 4 vs. Winner Game 5, 5pm

Sunday, May 4
Game 7: If necessary, 1pm

Sunday, May 4
Championship Game - Winner Bracket A vs. Winner Bracket B, 5pm

MORE INFORMATION

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