Jordan Meisner

No Quit Cats Fall Just Short

5/7/2017 1:56:00 AM

By: LC Sports Information - Brad Welborn

Box Score

In a battle for the ages with a spot in the finals on the line, Louisiana College and the University of Texas at Tyler traded blows back and forth until the final out, ending in the Wildcats heartbreaking 14-10 defeat Saturday night at Irwin Field in Tyler, TX. The loss eliminated the Wildcats from the American Southwest Conference tournament postseason and ended their 2017 season with a 20-22 overall record.

The game began with an early scoring opportunity for the Wildcats with the bases loaded and just 1-out, but back-to-back strikeouts prevented any runs from coming across for LC. That missed chance would come back to bite the Wildcats as a double to left center in the bottom of the second scored the runner from first and gave the home Patriots the 1-0 lead at the end of two innings.

The Wildcats turned their first of three consecutive inning ending double plays to get out of any more danger. After their second double play in the bottom of the third, LC got the 2-out hit they were looking for with runners in scoring position from Ashton Martin. A shallow liner into centerfield fell under the glove of the diving defender and allowed both runs to score to put LC ahead for the first time 2-1. Martin's hit was the first of three straight 2-out base knocks, that included an RBI double from Zane Corbell and a RBI single from Keifer Moore, extending the lead to 4-1 mid way through the fourth.

Still trailing 4-2 in the fifth, the Patriots plated three runs on a sacrifice fly, a ground out and a base hit up the middle to retake the lead over the Wildcats 5-4 going to the sixth.

The turning point of the game for LC could have easily come in the bottom of the sixth, but the resilience of the team showed through quickly. With the bases loaded and 2-out, a pop up into shallow left field dropped to the ground between three LC defenders, allowing two runs to score and extending the inning for the Patriots. As good teams do, they took advantage. Another run scored on a wild pitch, and then after a walk, a 3-run home run made the game 11-4 in Tyler's favor.

With no quit in them, the Wildcats came storming back in the top of the next inning. Two singles put runners on base for Deauton Delgado to hit his second double of the game and bring both around to score. After a walk and a wild pitch, Sully Martin's base hit to left scored another run making it 11-7 UTT. Another wild pitch allowed Steven Pizano to slide in safely at home, and in his second at-bat of the inning, Seth Stevens shot one through the right side for two more runs, and just like that LC was back within a run at 11-10.

The Wildcats fourth reliever of the game, freshman Hunter Eyre, got the Patriots in order in the bottom of the inning, keeping the momentum in the LC dugout, but a 2-out single from Sully Martin would be all the Wildcats would get in the eighth. In the bottom of the inning with runners at first and second and two out, a lengthy battle at the plate between Eyre and UTT's Alex Bishop, that included five foul balls, ended with Bishop singling to right for an RBI, which was followed by a double to left, giving the Patriots three insurance runs.

The Wildcats could not provide any more fireworks in the ninth, as they were retired in order to end the game, conceding this battle to their opponents.

"That's what this whole program is built on, fight and family and believing in each other," LC Head Coach Mike Byrnes said. "It's been that way ever since I've been here and it's going to be that way until I leave. Those guys showed it tonight. They never gave up, they battled, and gave themselves a chance at the end of the ball game to be there and just fell short. But it was a great season, we had great leadership out of our seniors and we have a lot of great players returning next year, so we're excited."

LC finished the season with a 20-22 record, the first 20 win season since 2013. Seth Stevens finished as the Wildcats leading hitter at .363 and was just one hit shy of tying the single season hit record for LC of 62. Charlie Waddingham was the Wildcats best starter during the year, with a 5-4 record and 2.59 ERA in 83.1 innings of work, fourth most innings pitched in a season for the Wildcats. Evan Mativi was dominant out of the pen for the Wildcats, with 25 strikeouts in 21.1 innings of work and only three earned runs allowed all year.

The loss ended the season, and the careers of multiple seniors, but long will the memories of their time as a Wildcat live. The evidence shown by the tears in the eyes, the hand of their teammate on the shoulder during the post game speech, and the brotherly embrace as they walk off the field one last time together. Each player knowing that the man on their left and right will forever be their Wildcat brother.

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