Blowouts in Shreveport, and upsets in Columbus, GA.
At the Southern States Athletic Conference tournament in Columbus:
#4-ranked Lee went two-and-out. They were taken out by #19 Southern Polytechnic 7-4. The Hornets won it with four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on only one hit; the winning run was scored by courtesy runner Conrad Boron when pinch-hitter Blake Parrot drew a bases-loaded walk. The Hornets drew a total of eight walks and two hit batters. Brad Hutson got the win in relief; starter Josh Strawn put in a good effort for the Hornets, recorded eleven strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings, allowed three earned runs on eight hits.
#6 Auburn-Montgomery also went two-and-out, losing to #16 Brewton-Parker 8-7 (10 innings). 1B Jacob Evors hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the ninth to send it into extra innings, then hit a bases-loaded single in the tenth to win it. Evors finished the game 3-6 with five RBI. The Barons used six pitchers; Ben Gillespie got the win, faced two batters, threw nine pitches. Story from Auburn-Montgomery site: No. 6 AUM Falls in Extras to No. 16 Brewton-Parker, 8-7
#13 Faulkner is still in the tournament, but they're in the losers' bracket. The Eagles lost to host William Carey 7-6. RF Javier Ortiz scored the winning run in the seventh; he reached base on a walk, went to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a wild throw. Starter Scotty Reese got the win for the Crusaders; Ortiz finished the game 2-3 with a double and two runs scored.
#22 Belhaven survived the wave of upsets, defeating Shorter 13-3. Brett Blaise and Jon Patino combined to hold Shorter to six hits; Blaise recorded nine strikeouts.
They're taking Sunday off in Columbus. Schedule for Monday (times EDT): Faulkner vs. Brewton-Parker, 3:30 PM; Shorter vs. Southern Polytechnic; Belhaven vs. William Carey, audio webcast.
First round action at the Red River Athletic Conference tournament in Shreveport:
#9 LSU-Shreveport defeated Texas College 15-1. DH Kyle Pearson hit two home runs for the Pilots, went 3-4 with five RBI.
#17 Northwood (TX) defeated Wiley 11-8. C Kal Saldana went 4-4 with two doubles and five RBI.
Texas-Brownsville defeated Texas Wesleyan 14-4. Danny Gidora went the distance (shortened to seven innings) for the Scorpions, allowed eight hits. 1B Matt Ginn went 2-3 with a home run, a double, and three RBI.
Schedule for Sunday (times CDT): Wiley vs. Texas College, 11:30 AM; LSU-Shreveport vs. Texas Wesleyan, 3 PM; Texas-Brownsville vs. Northwood, 6:30 PM. An audio webcast of the LSU-Shreveport game might be available here.