Jordan Meisner

Wildcats Finish Tough Day in Marshall

3/18/2017 5:54:00 PM

By: LC Sports Information

Box Score 1 | Box Score 2

It was all Louisiana College Wildcats on Friday night as LC routed East Texas Baptist University 14-2, but a different story for Saturday's doubleheader. The Wildcats lost both games to their American Southwest Conference rivals, in walk-off fashion for game one, 9-8, and shutout fashion in game two, 13-0. The Wildcats committed four errors in game one and were held to just five hits in game two. LC returns to Billy Allgood Field next weekend for a three game American Southwest Conference series against Hardin-Simmons University.

Game 1

On Friday, it was the Wildcats that opened the first inning with an explosive inning. The story was different on Saturday as ETBU jumped out to an early 4-0 lead after the first inning. The Tigers put together a 2-out rally in the first that included back-to-back RBI singles and was extended on an error in right that allowed two more runs to score, forcing LC have to play from behind from the start of the game.

The Wildcats got a run back in the top of the third thanks to a double to right center off the bat of Walt Aldridge, brought Sully Martin in to score from third and put Seth Stevens at third with just 1-out in the inning. The next two Wildcats struck out and the threat was quickly eliminated for LC. ETBU answered the Wildcats run in the third with another crooked number in the bottom of the inning. An error and hit batter put runners on first and second with no out, when a double down the left field line scored both runners and put ETBU up 6-1. A solo home run later in the inning made the score 7-1 at the end of three innings of play.

LC came storming back in the top of the fifth, with the first three batter's of the inning reaching base. Sully Martin drew a bases loaded, 1-out walk to bring in the Wildcats second run of the game. An RBI ground out by Seth Stevens added another run, and left LC with runners at second and third with 2-out. Walt Aldridge followed Stevens grounder with a bomb over the left center field wall, clearing the bases for his first home run as a Wildcat, pulling the Cats back within a run at 7-6.

ETBU got a run back in the bottom of the inning, but the Wildcats were not deterred as they put together a 2-out rally of their own in the top of the fifth. With a runner on second and 2-out, Ashton Martin ripped a single up the middle to bring in Dustin Brown from second. Sully Martin followed with a double to left center, bringing Ashton around to score from first to tie the game 8-8 with two innings left in the game.

The Wildcats had a chance to take the lead in the sixth when they got a runner to third with 2-out, but a ground ball to third ended the inning for LC. They went down in order in the top of the seventh, leaving the game tied at eight going into the bottom of the final inning. A base hit started the inning for the Tigers, and an error on the next play put runners at second and third with no outs. After an intentional walk to load the bases and create a force play at the plate, ETBU was able to find a hole between the drawn in infield for the game winning hit through the left side.

Walt Aldridge was the only Wildcat with more than one hit in the game, going 2-for-4 with four RBI, three coming on his home run in the fourth. Sully Martin went 1-for-3 with two RBI and two runs scored, and Ashton Martin scored a run and drove one in as well. Starting pitcher Jacob Buchanan pitched 3.0 innings, allowing seven runs, only three of them earned, on six hits with three strikeouts. Austin Taylor pitched 2.2 innings in relief, allowing one earned run on three hits with three strikeouts. Evan Mativi took the loss, his first of the season, giving up the hit in the bottom of the seventh to score the winning run.

Game 2

If game one of the series was all Wildcats, the rubber game on Saturday afternoon was all Tigers. ETBU pounded out 14 hits, scoring 13 runs in the worst loss by the Wildcats this season. The Tigers got to starting pitcher Austin Thompson early, scoring two runs in the bottom of the first on a base hit to right and a sacrifice fly to center.

In the second inning, a pair of 2-run, home runs in the inning put ETBU ahead 6-0 after just two innings of play. A big comeback would not be in the cards for LC in the series finale, as the Wildcats were held to just four hits the rest of the game, and no more than one hit in any of the final five innings. ETBU added two runs in the fifth on a wild pitch and a fielder's choice ground out, and then five more in the sixth on six hits in the inning.

The 13 runs and 14 hits were the most the Wildcats have given up all season, and the five Wildcat hits were the fewest in a game against an opponent not named LSU. The Wildcats used five different pitchers in the game, with Carson Bolyer going the longest at 2.1 innings, giving up two runs on two hits, with two strikeouts. Austin Thompson took his first loss of the season, only going 1.2 innings, giving up six runs on six hits with one strikeout.

LC returns to Billy Allgood Field next weekend for another ASC series against Hardin-Simmons. The series is scheduled for a doubleheader Friday beginning at 4 p.m. with the series final starting at 12 p.m. on Saturday. Stay connected to Louisiana College baseball all season at www.lcwildcats.net, following @LC_bsb on Twitter, and liking LC Athletics on Facebook.

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