SHREVEPORT, La. (MacBulldogs.com) – A first inning solo home run put MC up early, but a slew of errors and walks created a deficit that the Bulldogs were unable to claw back from as they dropped their first game of the new season to LSU Shreveport on Friday (Jan. 24), 17-1.
The Bulldogs got up on the Pilots early in the top of the first inning as Colt Sussex-Uphold blasted his first home run of the season deep into left field to give MC the 1-0 lead. This served as the lone run scored for MC as the Pilots opened up the floodgates when they got their chance to swing the bats. LSU Shreveport scored seven runs, four of them being unearned, and rolled from that point on.
In the bottom of the third, the runs continued to pile up for the Pilots as they added five more runs to their lead thanks to three hits and a pair of MC errors. The Bulldogs collected their second and final hit of the game in the top of the sixth inning when Koen Gakstatter collected a single. The late hit did little to change the outcome as the Pilots sealed the deal in seven innings of play.
Levi Betts got the start on the mound for MC but failed to record a single out before the Bulldogs went to their bullpen. Matthew Bomersback was solid out of the bullpen, surrendering just three hits and recording a pair of strikeouts. The pitching staff for MC allowed 12 walks and hit five batters. Sussex-Uphold ended the game 1-2 with his solo homerun being his lone hit. The batters for the Bulldogs combined for 10 strikeouts in the game.
Bulldog baseball returns to action tomorrow, January 25 for a doubleheader against the Pilots. The first pitch of game one is set for 12 p.m.
