AUM Moves Into Regional Championship Game
Pearson led off the game with a double and came around to score on Matthew Keel’s single, as AUM scored two runs in the first inning, and matched that with another two runs in the second inning to lead LSUS 4-0 after two innings of play.
LSUS entered the game as the only team in the tournament without a loss and after Keel’s two run blast in the fourth inning gave AUM a 6-0 lead, it looked like the Senators were in store for an easy win.
Justin Barrett pitched masterfully for AUM has he pitched into the seventh inning only allowing a solo home run to Dusty Maddox in the top of the sixth. Barrett gave way to Colby Elrod in the seventh as Barrett left with the bases loaded and one out. Elrod came in to face Maddox who again sent a towering drive dead into center field, but AUM’s Stephen Partrick made a leaping snag at the fence to only allow one run on the sacrifice fly.
From there Brandon Ware came in with the bases loaded and the tying run at the plate. He then retired four straight batters to lead AUM into the ninth with a 6-2 lead. From there it got a little dicey as Bryan Cooksey hit a two run home run scoring David McGhee and cutting the Senators lead to 6-4. Then with two outs and Dustin Bissonnette standing on base and Maddox at the plate with two outs, Ware was able to strike out Maddox to end the game and send AUM into the championship.
AUM’s pitching was outstanding as Barrett (6-1) had 10 strikeouts only two bases on balls in the contest. Ware had three strikeouts in his outing while notching six eighth save of the season and second of the day.
After chasing LSUS starter J.V. Lafitte in the fourth inning, AUM was held scoreless on only three hits the rest of the way. Lafitte’s record fell to 3-2 on the season and LSUS (37-22) will face
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