Pilots Complete Sweep of Texarkana In 14 Innings

Texarkana, Texas— In a dominating display of offensive firepower and pitching prowess, the Pilots of LSU Shreveport secured a resounding doubleheader sweep against the Eagles of Texarkana, with victories of 13-4 and 21-0. With these impressive wins, the Pilots asserted their dominance and completed the series sweep in emphatic fashion improving their overall record to 16-2 and a conference record of 8-1.

In Game One, the Pilots wasted no time in setting the tone for the day, jumping out to an early lead with three runs in the first inning. Vantrel Reed ignited the offense with a two-run blast before Trevor Burkhart crossed the plate to give the Pilots an early advantage. Despite a single run from the Eagles in the bottom of the inning, the Pilots remained in control, extending their lead to 4-1 with another run in the second inning.

The Pilots' offense exploded in the middle innings, with back-to-back displays of powerful hitting. They put up five runs in the top of the fourth inning and followed up with four more runs in the top of the fifth, showcasing their depth and ability to produce runs in bunches. Despite a late push from the Eagles with runs in the sixth and seventh innings, the Pilots maintained their lead and secured the victory.

Josh Gibson led the offensive charge for the Pilots in Game One, going 3-for-3 at the plate with three runs scored and four RBIs. Jose Sallorin and Vantrel Reed also made significant contributions, with Sallorin going 2-for-2 with one run and two RBIs, and Reed going 2-for-4 with two runs and four RBIs. On the mound, Draven Zeigler delivered a strong performance, pitching five innings and striking out eight batters to earn the win for the Pilots.

In Game Two, the Pilots picked up right where they left off, jumping to an early lead and never looking back. They scored runs in every inning minus the second, highlighted by a three-run outburst in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, respectively. With the game well in hand, the Pilots erupted for nine runs in the seventh inning to run rule the Eagles and complete the shutout victory.

Vantrel Reed continued his stellar performance at the plate in Game Two, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two runs and five RBIs. Carter LaValley and Brandon Valdez also made significant contributions, with LaValley going 1-for-2 with two runs and four RBIs, and Valdez going 3-for-4 with one run and two RBIs. On the mound, AJ Fritz got the start for the Pilots, pitching four innings and striking out five batters, while Josh Fortenberry and Lex Meinderts provided solid relief pitching to secure the shutout victory.

With these impressive wins, the Pilots of LSU Shreveport demonstrated their strength and depth as a team, paving the way for continued success as they look ahead to future matchups.

The Pilots will be back in action Monday March 4th as they take on the Bulldogs of Tennessee Wesleyan in an early week face off. First pitch is set for 1:00pm CT from Athens, Tennessee.

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