Gomm Hits Walk-Off Double to Lift Pilots Over the Saints

Shreveport, Louisiana— In a thrilling matchup at the ballpark, the Pilots of LSU Shreveport secured a dramatic 8-7 victory over the Saints of Our Lady of the Lake in walk-off fashion. With the win the Pilots moved to an overall record of 17-2 and a conference record of 9-1. 

The Pilots wasted no time asserting their dominance, taking an early lead in the game. Trevor Burkhart ignited the offense in the bottom of the first with a solid double, paving the way for AJ Fritz to bring him home, putting the Pilots up 1-0. Building on their momentum, the Pilots extended their lead in the second inning. Josh Gibson's powerful triple to left-center field set the stage for Cooper Huspen to cross the plate, pushing the lead to 2-0. 

However, the resilient Saints fought back, knotting the score at 2-2 in the third inning, setting the stage for a tense battle between the two teams. The game remained deadlocked until the sixth inning when the Saints seized the opportunity to grab their first lead of the game, surging ahead 5-3 with a three-run effort. 

Undeterred, the Pilots staged a comeback, chipping away at the Saints' lead with a run in the seventh inning, setting the stage for a thrilling conclusion. In the bottom of the eighth, Jayden Morgan delivered a clutch performance, launching a towering shot over the right-field fence to tie the game at 5-5, igniting the home crowd. But the drama didn't end there. The Saints managed to regain the lead in the top of the ninth, scoring two runs to go up 7-5, putting the pressure on the Pilots to respond. 

With their backs against the wall, the Pilots rallied in the bottom of the ninth, fueled by Josh Gibson's leadoff triple. Burkhart came through in the clutch with a crucial RBI single, narrowing the gap to 7-6. A walk to AJ Fritz and a well-executed bunt by ryan Davenport loaded the bases for the Pilots, setting the stage for Austin Gomm to deliver the game-winning blow. With nerves of steel, Gomm blasted a long shot over the centerfielder's head, driving in two runs in walk-off fashion, sealing the thrilling 8-7 victory for the Pilots. 

In a standout offensive performance, Josh Gibson, Ryan Davenport, and Trevor Burkhart led the charge, each going 2-for-4 at the plate. Gibson showcased his power with two triples, while Burkhart contributed two runs and an RBI. 

On the mound, Draven Zeigler delivered a solid start, notching eight strikeouts over five innings of work. Josh Fortenberry made history with his 81st appearance, while David Hankins earned the win with a stellar relief effort, shutting down the Saints in the final inning.  

The Pilots will be back in action Sunday March 10th as they face the Saints in a doubleheader to conclude the series. The first pitch of game one is set for 12:00pm CT from Pilot Field in Shreveport, Louisiana. 

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