Late-inning rally falls short against LSUA

ALEXANDRIA, La. - The Wiley University baseball team rallied in the seventh inning, but it wasn't enough to overcome an early deficit in an 8-6 loss against Louisiana State University at Alexandria Tuesday at Generals Field.

The Wildcats (0-3) open the season with three consecutive losses for the first time since 2022. They allowed six runs in the first three innings. Two walks and an error helped the Generals plate a run in the first inning. They added one in the second on a hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded. Wiley allowed four runs on four hits in the third.

Eddie Garza led off the fourth with a single. Jacob Perez followed by being hit by a pitch. Kai Woodard drove in his second run of the season with a single to left. LSU-Alexandria pushed its lead to six with a run off of three walks in the sixth inning. Wiley pitchers walked 12 batters, marking the second consecutive game it allowed double-digit walks.

Head coach Kendrick Biggs pulled his starters in the bottom of the sixth. Brendan Mendoza led off the seventh by reaching on an error. A single by Ajari Camp moved Darion Wallace, who courtesy ran for Mendoza to second. Wallace scored on an error by the shortstop. With one out, Laker McPherson walked to load the bases. Julian Rosales, who entered as a defensive sub in the sixth, drove in Camp with a single. Smauri Abram picked up his first two RBIs of the season with a single to right-center. He advanced to second on the throw. Orenthal Lewis cut the margin to one with an RBI single to right.

The Generals (1-5) got a run back in the bottom half of the inning on an error with two outs. Wiley was unable to rally in the final two innings. Camp walked with one out in the eighth and stole two bases. He was stranded at third. Trey Perkins and Lewis walked in the ninth - putting the tying runs on base. The game ended with a ground out to short.

Jalen Porter started on the mound for the first time this season. He went 2 1/3 innings and struck out four. Nick Rodriguez pitched 2 2/3 scoreless innings with two strikeouts. Marquis Kuykendall threw one-third of an inning. Ivan Del Villar tossed the final 2 2/3 innings - allowing an unearned run on one hit and struck out three.

The Wildcats will open a three-game series against Sterling College on Friday. The Warriors opened the season with two victories over Randall University on February 2. Their doubleheader on February 3 was canceled.

For more coverage on the Wildcats visit Baseball - Wiley University (wileyathletics.com)

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