Wildcats Pound Bearcats to Start the Season

2/10/2017 11:15:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The Louisiana College Wildcats baseball season started with fireworks on Friday night as LC pounded out 22 hits over two games and picking up the a double-header sweep on Friday night of Rust College. LC took game one of the double dip 7-1 before running away with game two 18-0. The two teams will play another double-header on Saturday afternoon beginning at 1 p.m.

Game 1

After a quick 1-2-3 inning to start the game on defense, the Wildcats came out swinging in the bottom of the first, batting around and scoring five runs. The first four batters of the game reached base for LC, with Kiefer Moore driving in the first run of the season on a single to right field, scoring Seth Stevens from second base. Newcomer Steven Pizano delivered a 2-run double to left center field, two batter later, putting the Wildcats on top 3-0 with 2-out in the inning. Dylan Keller drove in two more after back-to-back walks on a single to left center, scoring Dustin Brown and Pizano on the hit. The Wildcats were up 5-0 after the first inning.

They would add two more runs in the second to go up 7-0 on another double from Pizano, this time to right center field, to bring in Deauton Delgado and Stevens. Starting pitcher, and conference player to watch Charlie Waddingham, cruised through the next 2.1 innings before giving way to senior Austin Taylor to go the rest of the way. Rust's only run of the game came in the fifth on a 2-out RBI singe through the left side.

The Wildcats had runners reach in each of the next three innings but couldn't add to their six run lead and finished game one with a 7-1 victory, picking up their first win of the year. Charlie Waddingham got the win going 4.1 innings allowing one run on two hits and striking out two. Designated hitter Steven Pizano had the big game at the plate going 2-for-3 with two doubles and four RBI. Kiefer Moore and Seth Stevens both had multi-hit game for LC in the opening game win.

Game 2

The second game of the double header got out of hand quickly with the Wildcats batting around twice in the first two innings and scoring 17 runs in the process. Sully Martin started things with a double to lead off the first, and scored two batters later when Deauton Delgado reached on a fielder's choice. Seth Stevens scored on a ground out by Kiefer Moore, making score 2-0 with 1-out in the inning. With the bases loaded four batters later, Delgado scored on an error by the shortstop, which was promptly followed by a 2-run double from Cojuante McMillan and a 2-run single by Martin, giving the Wildcat the touchdown advantage after the first inning.

The second inning was just as exciting for the Wildcats, as Kiefer Moore, the second batter of the inning, blasted his first home run of the season putting LC up 9-0 in the second. The Wildcats scored their next two runs thanks to some Bearcat miscues in the field and behind the plate, which ultimately loaded the bases for Seth Stevens with still only 1-out in the inning. Stevens connected on a pitch and sent it flying over the wall for a grand slam putting the Wildcats up 15-0. They added two more after a pitching change on RBI singles by Konner James and Garrett Parker and led 17-0 at the end of two innings of play.

The combination of Jacob Buchanan, Evan Mativi, and Phillip Vidrine on the mound for LC breezed through the next five innings of play totaling seven strikeouts and only allowing one batter to reach base the rest of the game, on a hit by pitch with 2-outs in the top of the fourth inning. Buchanan went 4.0 innings, gave up only one hit, walked two, and struck out eight. Mativi and Vidrine thres 3.0 innings of perfect work to close out the convincing win.

Nine different players tallied hits for the Wildcats in the game with the big ones coming from Seth Stevens and Kiefer Moore on their home runs in the second inning. Sully Martin also chimed in going 2-for-2, with two RBI and two runs scored from the lead off spot.

The Wilcats and Bearcats will play another double-header on Saturday afternoon with first pitch of game one scheduled for 1 p.m. at Billy Allgood Field. Stay connected to Louisiana College baseball through the season by following @LC_bsb on Twitter or liking LC Athletics on Facebook.

Print Friendly Version