JOURNAL SPORTS
Leaving no doubt, LSUS stormed to the Red River Athletic Conference baseball championship last weekend with a weekend left in league play, one the Pilots will enjoy at home beginning tonight against Texas College.
The Pilots swept Jarvis Christian on the road last weekend by a combined score of 41-13. In the opening 17-5 win, fourth-year LSUS coach Brad Neffendorf recorded his 200th win, moving to 200-45 overall in charge.
The series was also noteworthy because outfielder Jose Aquino slugged his way to RRAC Hitter of the Week honors by clouting four home runs and collecting nine RBI.
The Pilots now stand at 35-7 overall, including 25-2 in conference play, heading into the 6 p.m. series opener this evening and a noon doubleheader Saturday. They finish the regular season at home Tuesday night with a single game at 6 against Louisiana Christian.
Despite getting swept in their recent non-conference four-game series at Lewis-Clark in Lewiston, Idaho, the Pilots only dipped two spots in the latest NAIA Top 25. LSUS now stands at No. 4.
The RRAC crown is the program’s third straight. LSUS will start the conference tournament in Sterlington next Thursday and is very likely a host for a first-round NAIA tournament site the following week.