ALEXANDRIA, LA – Josh Pierce tossed five no-hit innings and the offense collected 17 in the Louisiana State University of Alexandria baseball team's 23-0 conference opening win over Xavier University of Louisiana.
 
"It was a good game for us," LSUA Head Coach Kody Gautreaux said. "We performed well under the lights. Early in the game it was back and forth but Josh was able to give us a quality start in five innings, no-hit baseball and our offense exploded there in the late innings."
 
Pierce (2-2) logged five innings for the Generals (5-7, 1-0 RRAC) and did not allow a hit. He struck out 10 hitters. Colin Ardoin and Barnes Williamson each threw a scoreless inning in relief.
 
"I had all my pitches on today," Pierce said. "I really stuck with my fastball and slider today. My biggest thing is I go out there and compete. I love competing, no matter who play or where it's at, I just love going out there and having fun."
 
At the plate, 11 different hitters recorded at least one hit. Zach Mengarelli, Luke Benoit, Blaise Foote, and Landon Langley all had a multi-hit game. Mengarelli recorded five runs batted in and scored a trio of runs, he also clubbed a three-run homerun. Benoit drove in one and scored three times. Foote drove in three and scored twice. Langley also drove in a pair and scored twice.
 
LSUA pushed across three runs in the first inning and never looked back. An RBI double from Foote opened the scoring. Langley then drove a pitch into right field, scoring a pair of runs.
 
A single from Foote in the second drove in Benoit for a 4-0 lead. He then doubled to center field in the fourth to bring Benoit home.
 
The Purple and Gold plated 12 runs in the fifth inning. Mengarelli roped a double down the left field line to drive in a pair. After a wild pitch allowed Lane Patin to score, a sacrifice fly from Benoit made it 9-0. A bases loaded balk forced home the 10^th LSUA run of the game. A pair of errors plated three more runs, before Julian Kliebert drove in Langley with a single up the middle. Mengarelli then launched a ball over the wall in left center for a three-run shot and a 17-0 lead.
 
LSUA scored six more runs in the sixth. Patin, Brett Batteford, Keegan Garcia, Joshua Tinnerello, and Trevor Dooley all recorded RBI knocks in the inning. Jaxon Bernard drew a bases loaded walk to force in a run.
 
The Generals are back in action on Friday, February 14, for a doubleheader against Xavier (La.). First pitch is scheduled for noon at the Generals Baseball Field.