PILOTS SINK RAMS IN THE NINTH
March 15, 2006

SHREVEPORT, LA:  The Texas Wesleyan University baseball team (9-7) gave up six runs in the bottom of the ninth and suffered another 6-5 at LSU-Shreveport (14-7).

The Rams started the scoring early when Josh Vander Hey came up with two outs in the first and belted a solo shot to left center giving the Rams a 1-0 lead.

The Rams plated another run in the top of the second inning when Chris Palmer hit a sacrifice fly to right field.  Meanwhile Shea Harrison, Weston Wood, and Michael Talley held LSUS scoreless for eight innings.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Rams pushed across another run on an RBI double by Billie Hicks to give the Rams a 3-0 lead.

Michael Talley entered the game in relief of Wood with a runner on base and two outs in the bottom of the sixth and induced a ground out to second baseman Cory Venable.  He then held the Pilots scoreless in the seventh and eighth innings.

The ninth inning was a different story.  After the Rams pushed across two more runs to stretch their lead to 5-0, the game took a turn for the worst.  Dusty Maddox reached on a leadoff single.  Head coach Mike Jeffcoat then called upon Hayden Lackey who had not allowed a run in his last three appearances. 

After allowing consecutive base hits, he recorded a strikeout for the first out of the inning.  After two runs had scored, the tying run reached on an error.  Consecutive walks loaded the bases, and Jordan Jones replaced Lackey, but faired no better issuing consecutive walks to end the game.

Hayden Lackey was given the loss to move his record to 2-1 on the season.  Shea Harrison continued to pitch well, dropping his ERA from 0.29 to 0.26 after pitching three scoreless innings.

The Rams return to action on Friday when they host Marietta College at LaGrave Field.  Game one of that doubleheader is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m.