ALEXANDRIA, La. – The #19 Louisiana Christian University baseball team started fast in its Red River Rivalry match-up against LSU Alexandria, but a three-error inning undid all the early work in a 7-5 loss to the Generals Friday night at Generals Field.
#19 Louisiana Christian (31-8, 16-6 RRAC) jumped in front with a one-out rally in the top of the second inning. With one away,
Chris Kelley pushed a base hit through the left side. With Zeohaniah Singleton running for Kelley,
Harrison Waxley went down the left field line for a double which set up
Gavin Vordick. Vordick traded places with Waxley, also doubling down the left field line to score both base runners for a 2-0 LCU lead.
Kelley added another run on his own in the fourth, belting a one-out solo home run to left for a 3-0 Wildcat lead.
A two-out rally in the top of the fifth seemed to give LCU some room for comfort.
Caleb Brown started the rally with a base hit back up the middle after the first two batters were retired.
Braden McLin then dropped a base hit in left field and both he and Brown took off on a ball that got by the LSUA catcher with Brown coming all the way home from second on the loose ball. McLin would come home on
Braden Trull's single back up the middle for a 5-0 Wildcats lead midway through the contest.
But that's where things came apart for the LCU defense as the first batter of the inning for LSU Alexandria (29-11, 17-5 RRAC) reached on an error. With three runs in, the bases loaded, and one away, a ground ball to first was misplayed and in the scramble following it, a second error allowed the Generals to score all three base runners for a 6-5 lead when the inning finally came to an end.
The Wildcats put two in scoring position with two outs in the top of the sixth but couldn't get them home. That missed opportunity was compounded as LSUA added an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth, the game's final run as the Wildcats would not threaten again.
Kelley went 2-for-4 with his home run being his ninth of the season and accounted for his lone RBI and run scored.
Vordick was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI.
Both Brown and McLin were 1-for-4 at the plate and scored a run.
Trull was also 1-for-4 with a RBI.
Waxley went 1-for-4 with a double and a run scored.
LCU got nine hits to just the six base hits for LSUA in the contest.
Brandon Carter (8-1) took the hard-luck loss as he threw 4.1 innings and allowed just two hits but six runs, just three earned, with six strikeouts and three walks.
Jacob Bareswill threw the final 3.2 innings, giving up four hits and one run, which was earned, with two strikeouts and a walk.
The Wildcats will look to win the series from the Generals on Saturday, needing to win both halves of the doubleheader. First pitch of game one of Saturday's twin bill against the Generals is set for 1 p.m. at Generals Field.
