Neffendorf wins 200th Game as Rohde Clears 100 Strikeouts

Hawkins, TX - In a game that was over as soon as it started, the Pilots would beat the Jarvis Christian Bulldogs by a score of 17-5 securing Coach Brad Neffendorf's 200th career win and sealing at least a share of the RRAC Regular Season title. The win moves the Pilots record to 33-7 overall and 23-2 in the RRAC. This will be the third consecutive regular season championship for the Pilots as they maintain their stranglehold on the Red River. 

It took just 245 games for Neffendorf to reach 200 wins, which is the fastest in program history. 2020 was a shortened season in which the Pilots just played 26 games winning 22 of them or the milestone would have probably happened sooner. The Pilots would win 45 the next year, followed by 53 in 2022, 47 in 2023, and they are currently 33-7 this year. Neffendorf credits the great players that have put on the Pilots jersey and the rich tradition that came before him. "The accomplishments and recognition is great, but these are 200 program wins on top of the built and sustained success of LSUS Baseball. They are because of the players, staff and support within this program," Neffendorf said. 

"The real recognition needs to go to our players who had an incredible week of practice and an unmatched response today in game one of our series after a very humbling weekend. We as a coaching staff are extremely proud of their effort and intent all week after we returned back from Lewiston", Neffendorf added.

LSUS would waste no time getting on the board in the first game of the series in Hawkins, Texas. Josh Gibson would drive in Ryan Davenport to put the Pilots up early. Vantrel Reed would follow that up with a two run homer that would bring Angel Rodriguez home followed up by another two run homer from Jose Aquino that would score AJ Fritz giving LSUS a 5-0 lead. A Rodriguez single in the second would bring Davenport to the plate again and a hit by pitch on Reed would score Gibson. Fritz would fly out to left scoring Rodriguez again putting the Pilots up big in just the second inning.

The fifth inning would be an explosion for LSUS as they would extend their lead to 16-1. Another bases loaded walk would end the scoring for the Pilots putting them up 17-1. Jarvis would find a way to score a few runs late in the game, but it wouldn't be enough to stop the run rule and the Pilots would finish the day with a 17-5 win in seven. 

Isaac Rohde would have another great outing, fresh off his win of Newcomer of the Year at the Pilot Choice Awards last night. With his seven strikeouts today he would become the first pitcher in the 2024 season to reach 100 K's. The win would also give Rohde his ninth win on the season. 

Several of the Pilots would have a great day at the plate resulting in four doubles, three home runs, and 20 hits. 

LSUS returns to action tomorrow in a double header with Jarvis Christian to close out the series at noon.

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