Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

The Louisiana College Wildcats baseball team finished their season opening nine game home stand Saturday with a double header split against the University of the Ozarks at Billy Allgood Field. The Wildcats lost in dramatic fashion in game one of the day on a bases loaded 2-out double in the top of the seventh, 7-6, but bounced back for a 6-2 win in the second game. LC takes their first road trip of the season next weekend as they travel to McMurry University in Abeline, Texas.

Game 1

After two scoreless innings to start the first game of Saturday's doubleheader, Ozarks got on the board with a double to center field, to take the lead for the first time in the series. It didn't take long for the Wildcats to respond though, answering the Eagles run with one of their own in the bottom of the inning thanks to a sacrifice fly by Seth Stevens to left field allowing Cojuante McMillan to tag and score from third, evening the game 1-1.

Ozarks took the lead back in the next half inning with two runs coming in on a 2-out single through the left side, making the Wildcats pay for two errors earlier in the in inning. Down 3-1 going into the bottom of the fourth, the Wildcats looked as if they had found the bats that they've had through the first couple weeks of the season.

After a line drive out to start the inning, the next four batters of the inning reached base for LC, with Duncan Cornfoot ripping a single through the left side to tie the game once again, this time at 3-3. Two batters later, Ashton Martin gave the Wildcats the lead on a base hit through the right side, the first of three straight 2-out hits for LC, the final being a 2-run single by Kiefer Moore to put the Wildcats up 6-3 after four innigs of play. A solo home run in the top half of the fifth from the Eagles made it a two run game with two innings to go.

After a scoreless sixth, the Wildcats entered the top half of the final inning with a 6-4 lead. A leadoff single started the inning for the Eagles, and relief pitcher Trey Ducote retired the next two batters on fly balls to left field. Back-to-back singles loaded the bases for Ozarks, and the Eagles got the big hit they were hoping to get. A bases clearing double to right center put Ozarks up 7-6 on one swing of the bat. LC got the tying run aboard but a stirke out and a pop up to short left him stranded at second to end the game.

Ashton Martin went 2-for-2 from the leadoff spot and Duncan Cornfoot added two hits with two RBI in the game. Jacob Buchanan started the game and went 3.1 innings, gave up three runs on four hits and struck out two in a no decision. Carson Bolyer pitched 1.2 innings and gave up a run on two hits, and Trey Ducote took the loss giving up the final three runs in the top of the seventh.

Game 2

In the rubber match of the three game series the Wildcats and Eagles scored seven of the eight total runs of the game in the first two innings of play. Ozarks got on the board in the top of the first inning, starting the inning with a leadoff double down the right field line off of starting pitcher Andrew Robinson, in his second start of the season. After moving to third on a fly ball to center, the first run of the game came in thanks to an infield single, giving UO the 1-0 lead.

The Wildcats answered Ozarks run to start the game with two of their own in the bottom of the inning, coming on a bases loaded double down the left field line by Steven Pizano, bringing in Seth Stevens and Ashton Martin to give LC a 2-1 lead at the end of the first. Robinson faced four batters in the top of the second giving up a 1-out single, but getting the next two batters on a ground ball and a strike out to send the Wildcats offense back to the plate.

LC responded with four runs in the inning after back-to-back doubles from Martin and Stevens, gave the Wildcats a 4-1 lead. A ground out by the next batter followed by a walk put runners at first and second with 2-out. The third double of the inning for LC came off the bat of Duncan Cornfoot down the left field line, bringing in Stevens and Walt Aldridge and giving the Wildcats a 6-1 lead after two innings. 

Ozarks was able to get one run back in the top of the third inning with three straight singles, but Robinson was able to get out of 1-out bases loaded jam in the inning by inducing a 6-4-3 double play to keep the score at 6-2 Wildcats. Robinson got the first two outs of the fourth inning before giving way to the Wildcats bullpen and Evan Mativi. The senior from Prairieville shut down the Eagles for the next 5.1 innings of the game, allowing just three hits over that time with nine strikeouts, picking up his first win of the season in the process.

The Wildcats didn't score any more runs after the second inning, but didn't need to thanks to the performance out of the pen from Mativi, keeping the Eagles from putting a rally together. Ashton Martin went a perfect 4-for-4 from the leadoff spot for LC in the game scoring two runs in the process. Seth Stevens added a 2-for-5 performance with two RBI and two runs scored as well. The Wildcats slugged four extra base hits in the game and three in their four run second inning.

LC finishes off a nine game season opening home stand with a 7-2 record and after their first conference series, 2-1 in ASC play. They will make their first road trip of the season next weekend as they travel to Abeline, Texas for an ASC series at McMurry University. They will return to Billy Allgood Field the following weekend for the Marler Ford Classic, which will feature three teams and six games over a three day stretch. Stay connected to Louisiana College baseball all season long by following @LC_bsb on Twitter and liking LC Wildcats on Facebook.