JOURNAL SPORTS
LSU Shreveport knew it was the host for a NAIA Baseball National Championship Opening Round regional last week. Wednesday, the Pilots learned four other teams will visit Pilot Field for the event beginning Monday, including 18th-ranked Mid-American Christian.
The Pilots, defending national champions, are the top seed in the Shreveport Bracket with a No. 12 ranking in the final regular season NAIA poll. LSUS (41-12) already had the host’s role awarded before it swept through three games last weekend at home to win the Red River Athletic Conference Tournament.
Other teams heading into the Shreveport bracket are regional No. 3 seed Loyola of New Orleans, No. 4 Oklahoma Wesleyan and No. 5 Huston-Tillotson.
The double-elimination tourney starts Monday at 11 a.m. with Oklahoma Wesleyan (36-17) meeting Huston-Tillotson (33-18). Mid-American Christian (39-13) faces regional third seed Loyola (36-17) at 2:30.
LSUS will begin play at 6 Monday evening, getting the winner of the first game.
Oklahoma Wesleyan has one of the most explosive offenses in the NAIA, batting .317 as a team with 107 home runs and 522 runs scored. The Eagles are led by one of the nation’s premier power hitters in Wally Diaz, who blasted 24 home runs with 85 RBI, while JT Maloney (.399, 14 HR) and Daurys Manzanillo (.380, 16 HR) headline a dangerous lineup.
Huston-Tillotson earned its berth by winning the HBCUAC Tournament championship. The Rams hit .281 as a team and are led offensively by Trey Garza (.370) and Alec Worden (.378), while Weston Bailey anchors the pitching staff with an 8-2 record and 2.43 ERA.
MAC boasts one of the most balanced offenses in the country, batting .331 with 70 home runs. The Evangels are powered by Nick Hill, who hit .350 with 21 home runs and 67 RBI, while Jalen King (.397) and Sammy Hallada (.360) provide elite production at the top of the lineup. On the mound, Ibrahim Gonzalez leads the staff with a 10-2 record and 1.83 ERA.
Loyola has 181 stolen bases while hitting .301 as a team. The Wolf Pack are led by Jaxon Buratt (.382) and Nathan McDonald (.353, 12 HR, 50 RBI), while closer Jake Cohen has anchored the bullpen with 13 saves and a 2.16 ERA.
LSUS is hitting .348 as a team with 537 runs, 60 home runs, and 209 stolen bases. Carlos Sanchez leads the Pilots with a .400 batting average, 84 hits, and 81 RBI, while Makana Olaso has added 15 home runs and 59 RBI.
On the mound, LSUS has posted a 3.35 team ERA with 439 strikeouts. The Pilots’ ace is Brock Lucas with a 10-2 record, 1.83 ERA, and 111 strikeouts in 88.1 innings pitched – the last nine a complete game five-hitter against Texas A&M-Texarkana last Saturday.
The Pilots have a seven-game winning streak.