Pilots Take Game One with Mustangs 11-1

Shreveport, LA - In a Thursday night showdown that began with a Staff Senate tailgate and the LSUS Chancellor, Robert Smith, throwing out the first pitch, the Pilots dominated the Mustangs 11-1 to get the series started. Winning their first game after recently moving to no.2 in the NAIA Top 25 national polls, the Pilots record improves to 26-3 overall and 17-2 in Red River play. 

From the first pitch, the Pilots came out focused and ready to impress the large home crowd. A one run second inning set the stage for LSUS to break things open in the third. Jose Aquino pounded a two-run homerun to left which was followed up with a solo shot that banged off the batter's eye in center by Angel Rodriguez for his fifth homerun of the season. The Pilots would plate another run that innning to take a 5-0 lead. 

USW would get on the board with a run in the sixth inning which would be answered by the Pilots to take a 6-1 lead. The eighth inning would see the wheels begin to fall off for the Mustangs as LSUS would load the bases with no outs. Back to back walks would allow the Pilots to score two and a two run double off the wall in left center from Rodriguez would end the night with the Pilots walking off with a 10-run rule in the 8th. 

Isaac Rohde (7-1) delivered again on the mound for LSUS as he went 7.0 innings, striking out nine while only allowing three hits and one run. Calvin Shepherd saw one inning of work giving up just one hit and no runs. 

Angel Rodriguez and Vantrel Reed both had good nights at plate going 3 for 5 with Rodriguez driving in three runs with a homerun, a double, and a stolen base. Reed finished with a double and drove in two. Aquino also went 2 for 3 with a two-run homerun and a double. 

The Pilots and the Mustangs return tomorrow for a double header starting at noon to close out the series. D-Bat Shreveport will host an Easter Egg hunt at Pilot Field starting at 2:15pm. 

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