Shreveport, LA– The LSUS Pilots could not have asked for better pitching in the first game of Saturday’s double header or for better rallying skills in the second game against the Springhill Badgers, as they won both games and swept the series.

Derek Cunningham pitched an outstanding first game to give the Pilots the 3-1 win and the LSUS offense blasted their opponents for an eight run inning in the second game to win 10-6.

Cunningham pitched a complete seven innings, giving up two hits, striking out seven and allowing only one run to score. LSUS scored two runs in the second inning and one in the third to secure the Pilots second win of the series.

Center fielder Dusty Maddox went 1-2 with an RBI; catcher Brent Lavallee had two singles with an RBI and first baseman Kyle Mace added an RBI double.

In the fifth inning, left fielder Chris Frye made a great defensive play with a diving catch to get the last out of the inning with one runner on base.

Heading into the second game of the day and third game of the series, Kevin Jewell took the mound for his team. He pitched five and two-thirds innings, allowing three total runs.

After the second inning, the Pilots were leading 1-0 due to an RBI double by third baseman Brian Cooksey. However, that lead was lost when the Badgers rallied to score two runs in the fouth inning.

After Springhill’s lead-off batter Neil Favre struck out, he reached base when the foul-tipped strike three got away from Lavallee. Even Lee then hit for an RBI double to tie the game. The visitors scored one more run after that on an RBI by Jason Outlaw to put the Badgers up 2-1.

The Pilots got into more trouble in the fifth inning when Jewell gave up one more run. Tyler Lewis came in to relieve him with two outs but did not have much more luck than the starting pitcher. He gave up three runs and the Badgers (13-29, 2-19) had a 6-1 lead.

LSUS broke out the bats in the sixth inning and managed to score eight runs on eight hits to take the lead 10-6. They received good relief pitching from Louis Roberts, who is credited with the win and the Pilots never looked back from there.

In that sixth inning rally, defensive specialist Brandon Magierowski hit a two-run bomb to give his team the offensive spark they needed. Cooksey and Cunningham then reached base safely on singles and Colin Moro moved them up on a perfect sacrifice bunt.

Lavallee scored Cooksey on his RBI single and Maddox, Dustin Bissonnette, Frye and Mace all followed suit by knocking in the remaining runners.

The Pilots ( 30-10, 17-4) will take on non-conference foe Paul Quinn in a double header on Tuesday, which begins at 5 p.m.

By Chrissy Chiri