PINEVILLE, LA – The Louisiana State University of Alexandria baseball team claimed a series opening victory over Red River Rival Louisiana Christian University, 9-7, with a nine-run ninth inning.
"What can I say about this team," LSUA Head Coach Kody Gautreaux said. "They have no quit in them and we proved that once again tonight. Credit to LCU for competing all nine innings and we're looking forward to doing it again tomorrow."
LSUA totaled 10 hits, five of which came in the ninth.
Jaxon Bernard finished 3-for-5 with one RBI.
Landon Langley and
Judge Boudreaux each drove in a pair.
Josh Pierce got the nod on the mound for the Generals (9-7, 4-0 RRAC) and tossed 5.2 innings. He allowed six runs, three earned, on nine hits. He walked for and struck out two. Pierce threw four shutout innings to open the game.
Shae Thibodeaux (1-0) earned the win in relief. He hurled 3.2 innings of one-run ball and allowed just two hits. Thibodeaux struck out two and walked one.
The Wildcats (8-9, 0-1 RRAC) scattered seven runs through from the fifth to the eighth inning. LCU's pitchers limited the Generals' runners for the first seven innings of play.
In the seventh, the Generals opened the inning with back-to-back hits from
Jaxon Bernard and
Dezmon Dugas. A fielder's choice and 4-6-3 double play ended the inning without any damage. The Generals put a pair of runners in scoring position an inning later with no outs, but the Wildcats retired the next three hitters to avert danger once more.
Louisiana Christian opened the ninth inning with a 7-0 lead and retired the lead-off hitter on a looking strikeout. Dugas drew a walk and
Landon Langley reached on a throwing error. With runners on second and third,
Lane Patin drew a walk to load the bases.
The Purple and Gold went to the bench, calling on
Judge Boudreaux to pinch hit. Before he could affect change, a wild pitch brought Dugas in from third for LSUA's first run, while Langley and Patin advanced 90 feet. Boudreaux laced a single through the right side, plating both runners, and bringing the score to 7-3.
A walk to
Zach Mengarelli was followed by an RBI double from
Luke Benoit for a 7-4 ballgame.
The Wildcats retired
Blaise Foote on a lineout and putting LCU one out away from victory.
Another wild pitch brought around Mengarelli.
Peyton Marcantel drew a walk, putting runners on the corners with two outs.
Three consecutive hits from Bernard, Dugas, and Langley plated four runs for a 9-7 lead. Dugas' RBI double tied the game at 7-7, before Langley drove in two to take the lead.
In the final frame, Thibodeaux retired the first two hitter of the inning. After a walk, he forced a ground out to seal the comeback victory.
The victory also secured the 2025 Red River Rivalry for LSUA. The Generals are 7-0-2 against the Wildcats with just five contests remaining on the year.
LSUA is back in action on Saturday, February 22, in an RRAC doubleheader at LCU. First pitch is scheduled for noon.
