Pilots Outslug Saints in Wild RRAC Tournament Clash to Advance, 9-7

Sterlington, La. — LSU Shreveport (49-0) used four home runs, clutch bullpen work, and late-game resilience to defeat Our Lady of the Lake University, 9-7, on Saturday afternoon at the Red River Athletic Conference Baseball Tournament. With the win, the Pilots set up a winner-take-all rematch against the Saints on Sunday at 1 p.m. for a spot in the championship game. The RRAC Championship game will be played on Sunday at a time to be determined.

The Pilots' offense exploded early after falling behind 2-0 in the top of the first. Austin Gomm sparked the comeback with a two-run homer, followed by back-to-back bombs from Vantrel Reed and Anthony Swenda in a five-run first inning. Reed later added a two-RBI single in the fourth to stretch the lead to 7-2.

OLLU made things interesting in the seventh, erupting for five runs to tie the game behind a string of clutch hits, including a second RBI double by Drew Saucedo and a two-run knock from Jack Kalisky.

But the Pilots responded immediately. In the bottom of the seventh, Diego Aragon delivered the dagger—a two-run homer to right that gave LSUS a 9-7 lead they wouldn't give back.

On the mound, Isaac Rohde gave LSUS 6.2 hard-fought innings. Brock Lucas (1-0) picked up the win in relief, recording a big strikeout to halt OLLU's rally, and Lex Meinderts was nails over the final two innings, securing his sixth save of the season.

OLLU's Devin Benavides (L, 0-1) was tagged for seven runs on nine hits—including three homers—over six innings. Christian Perez surrendered Aragon's decisive homer in two innings of relief.

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