PINEVILLE, La. – Knowing that likely the next time these two teams see each other, it'll be as conference opponents, the Louisiana College baseball team battled future Red River Athletic Conference rival LSU Alexandria to a doubleheader split with the Wildcats taking game one 4-2 before the Generals salvaged the nightcap 7-4 Friday night at Billy Allgood Field at Legacy Stadium.
Game 1 – LSU Alexandria 2, Louisiana College 4
It was LSUA that struck first in game one with a RBI single in the top of the second inning, but the Wildcats were able to get out some serious two out trouble as a strike out by
Beau Hebert got LC out of the jam to keep it a one-run game, a lead that would not last long for the Generals. LC got that run back in the bottom half of the inning as
Nick Moreau dropped a two out base hit into right field to score
Dane Pedersen from third to even the score at 1-1.
Ju'Juan Franklin needed just one swing to put the Wildcats ahead for good in game one as he came up with one out in the bottom of the third inning with
Keelyn Johnson standing on first, found a pitch he liked and deposited it over the wall in left-center for the two-run home run that put LC up 3-1.
LSUA got one of those runs back with a solo home run of their own in the fourth. However, LC bumped the lead back up to two runs in the fifth inning as
Keelyn Johnson took advantage of a wild pitch and came home from third for the game's final run. Defense did the rest as the Wildcats kept the tying LSUA runs on base in the sixth, and then got the Generals in order in the seventh, and final, inning to close out the win.
Ju'Juan Franklin went two-of-three at the plate in game one with his second home run of the season accounting for both of his RBI and his run scored in the contest.
Keelyn Johnson went one-for-three with a walk and scored twice.
Nick Moreau went one-for-two with a RBI and was hit by a pitch.
Colten Newsom (3-0) threw the final four innings and gave up four hits and one run, which was earned, walked one and struck out four.
Beau Hebert started and threw three innings, allowing four hits and one run, which was earned, walked two and struck out four.
Game 2 – LSU Alexandria 7, Louisiana College 4
The Wildcats proved to be more their own enemy in game two as mistakes helped LSUA pull out the nightcap.
After two-plus innings of near dominant pitching started the contest, the Wildcats got on the board first in a big way.
Alex Ashby drew a walk with two outs to being up
Christian Vandergrift, and Vandergrift made the inaccuracy hurt as he found a pitch he liked and placed it over the wall for a two-run home run to give LC a 2-0 lead after three innings of play.
But two errors in the fifth helped LSUA load the bases, and then one swing of the bat gave the Generals the lead as a grand slam over the center field wall made the score 4-2 LSUA.
However, the Wildcats would rally in the seventh, loading the bases with no outs to set up a potential big inning.
Ty Morgan came home on a wild pitch to pull LC back within a run, and then
Alex Ashby tied the game with a RBI single to left that plated
Beau Freeman for a 4-4 score.
A most untimely error in the eighth inning though proved fortuitous as a ground ball that should've ended the inning instead was booted and the inning was extended while also allowing a run to score. The Generals turned the mistake into two more hits and two more runs scored in the frame for the game's final runs. The Wildcats got runners on base in both the eighth and ninth innings but couldn't get the tying run aboard.
Beau Freeman collected three hits in the nightcap, going three-of-four with a run scored.
Ty Morgan went two-for-three with both of his hits being doubles, a run scored, and drew a walk.
Christian Vandergrift went one-for-five with that one being his third home run of the season, representing both of his RBI and his run scored in the contest.
Alex Ashby went two-for-four with a double and a walk, a RBI, and a run scored.
Gerald Groue, Jr. (0-1) picked up the hard luck loss as he threw one inning of work and allowed three hits and three runs, none of which were earned, didn't walk any batters and struck out two. The Wildcats used a total of six different pitchers in the contest, allowing only three earned runs and combining for ten strikeouts and five walks.
Andrew Robinson and
Konnor McDermott each struck out three Generals hitters.
The Wildcats (10-3, 6-0 ASC) now enjoy the rest of the weekend off before preparing to jump back into American Southwest Conference play next weekend on the road against Sul Ross State. First pitch of Friday's doubleheader against the Lobos (3-5, 1-5 ASC) is set for 4:00 P.M. at Kokernot Field in Alpine, Texas.
