JOURNAL SPORTS

STERLINGTON — There was a close call, uncommon in the LSUS baseball team’s amazing unbeaten season, but the Pilots still outclassed the other Red River Athletic Conference squads and captured the RRAC Tournament title Sunday.

After needing a seventh-inning Diego Aragon two-run homer to right that gave LSUS a 9-7 lead they wouldn’t give back Saturday to subdue Our Lady of the Lake, Sunday the NAIA’s top-ranked team raised its perfect record to 51-0 with a pair of lopsided wins — a 12-1 semifinal victory over Our Lady of the Lake followed by an 11-1 rout of Louisiana Christian in the title game.

In Sunday’s rematch with Our Lady of the Lake, Anthony Swenda blasted a grand slam as LSUS opened a 5-0 first-inning lead. Cobe Reeves threw a complete game five-hitter.

In the championship matchup, the Pilots kept their bats hot.  Josh Gibson crushed a pair of two-run home runs in the first and second innings, staking LSUS to a quick 4-0 lead. Aragon launched a three-run homer in the third, and Gomm added a two-run shot in the fourth as the Pilots poured it on.

Nine Pilots earned All-Tournament honors, including the entire infield: Austin Gomm (first base), Vantrel Reed (second base), Jose Sallorin (shortstop) and Gibson (third) along with catcher Aragon. Swenda (designated hitter) and outfielder Ryan Davenport were also cited along with pitchers Draven Zeigler and Reeves.

Gibson took the tournament MVP award and Sallorin won the tournament Gold Glove honor.

Aside from Saturday’s battle, LSUS won its other three tournament games by a combined 33-2.

The Pilots will get a week off as they look toward to the host’s role in an NAIA Opening Round tournament at Pilot Field from May 12-15.