JOURNAL SPORTS
LSUS’ drive for a return to the NAIA Division I Baseball World Series ended in a 2-1 loss to Kansas Wesleyan Thursday in the Opening Round Shreveport Bracket championship game at Pilot Field.
The Pilots (44-11), making their 21st appearance in the NAIA Baseball National Championship, were seeking to get back to the World Series in Lewiston, Idaho after last going in 2021 and 2022. But the Coyotes went undefeated in the region, winning all three games and the championship.
LSUS starting pitcher Isaac Rohde, the Red River Athletic Conference Pitcher of the Year, kept the Coyotes in check allowing two runs in six innings on the mound. He scattered seven hits and notched 11 strikeouts.
Kansas Wesleyan had combined to score 24 runs in the first two games of the regional. The Pilots’ Alex Gonzalez, David Hankins, Tanner Young and Josh Fortenberry finished the final three innings, allowing only two hits and one walk.
Kansas Wesleyan (48-10), the 20th ranked team in the final NAIA Top 25 coaches poll, scored single runs in the first and third innings. Jacob Williamson and Kendall Foster started the game with the only two walks Rohde gave up. Tyler Favretto singled to score Williamson from third for the first run. Favretto reached on a hit batsman and Coulson Riggs came in to pinch run. After a balk and single advanced Riggs to third, Zach Beatty singled him in.
LSUS’ lone run came in the fourth. RRAC Player of the Year Vantrel Reed doubled and scored on an AJ Fritz single. Reed finished the game 2-for-4 and Trevor Burkhart was 2-for-3.
Brett Maddock (9-2) got the win for the Coyotes, working seven innings as he allowed five hits, one run, walked three and struck out four. KT Gearlds earned the save by allowing just one hit and one walk over the last two innings.