Jordan Meisner

Baseball Bounces Back Big

3/18/2017 12:03:00 AM

By: LC Sports Information

Box Score

Just three days after being blanked by one of the best team's in the country, LSU, the Louisiana College Wildcats exploded for 14 runs in their return to American Southwest Conference play against rival East Texas Baptist University. A six run first inning set the stage for the 14-2 win over this set of Tigers in the three game series opener Friday night. LC and ETBU will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Marshall, Texas.

LC jumped out on top early with six runs and eight hits in the top of the first inning. Five straight base hits, with the third and fourth by Walt Aldridge and Kiefer Moore providing the first two RBIs of the game, and put LC up 2-0. Still batting in the inning with only 1-out and the bases loaded, Steven Pizano hit the Wildcats second grand slam of the season over the left center field wall, giving the Wildcats a 6-0 lead just 1-out into the game. ETBU got out of the inning on a fielder's choice and a tag out of the runner at third to end the inning.

The six run first was more than enough support for starting pitcher Charlie Waddingham as he pitched his first complete game of the season and only allowed one run on five hits through the first eight innings of the game. Even with the lead and Waddingham pitching a gem, the Wildcats continued to pour on the runs.

In the top of the fifth, a bases loaded walk to Jarvis Griffith made the score 7-0. Asthon Martin hit into a double play for the first two out of the inning, but another run scored on the play, and Sully Martin followed with an RBI single to left to put the Wildcats up 9-0 after four and a half innings of play. ETBU scored a run in the bottom of the fifth on a double to left center field with 2-outs.

With a 10-1 lead going into the ninth inning, the Wildcats took advantage of some ETBU walks and an error in the inning to plate four more runs. A single by Seth Stevens drove in a run, and Kiefer Moore topped one back to the pitcher but the runner from third was able to score on the play, and an error at short allowed the 14th run of the game for LC to score.

The Wildcats pounded 20 hits in the game, the most in a game all season long, and took advantage of four ETBU errors in the game. Seth Stevens went an impressive 5-for-6 with a double and an RBI, while Steven Pizano had four RBI on two hits, including the first inning grand slam. Every batter in the lineup had a hit and scored a run in the game. Charlie Waddingham pitched the first complete game of the season for the Wildcats, giving up two runs on eight hits with nine strikeouts, throwing 125 pitches in the game, for his fourth win of the season.

The Wildcats and Tigers will play a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m. and LC returns to Billy Allgood Field next weekend for a conference series against Hardin-Simmons University. Stay connected to Louisiana College baseball all season at www.lcwildcats.net, liking @LC_bsb on Twitter, and liking LC Athletics on Facebook.

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