Shreveport, LA —
The Oklahoma Wesleyan Eagles suffered their first loss of the NAIA National Tournament Opening Round on Monday night, falling 5–4 to LSU Shreveport. After trailing by three runs late, the Eagles battled back to tie the game in the eighth inning before the Pilots secured the win in walk-off fashion in the ninth.
LSU Shreveport struck first in the second inning after loading the bases and bringing home two runs on a hit-by-pitch and a sacrifice bunt. Oklahoma Wesleyan answered an inning later when Wally Diaz and Daurys Manzanillo recorded back-to-back singles before Joseph Gutierrez drove in Diaz with an RBI single through the left side to cut the deficit to 2–1.
The game settled into a strong pitching battle through the middle innings as Alex Garcia continued to work efficiently on the mound for the Eagles. Garcia turned in another impressive postseason performance, allowing four runs while striking out 10 batters across 7.2 innings of work and consistently working out of pressure situations to keep Oklahoma Wesleyan within striking distance.
LSU Shreveport added two more runs in the sixth inning on a double to right center, extending its lead to 4–1 heading into the late innings. Oklahoma Wesleyan responded with its biggest rally of the night in the eighth. Gilbert Morales opened the inning with a solo home run before Jo'elvis Fernandez and Diaz reached base to set the table for Manzanillo, who delivered a clutch two-run double down the right field line to even the score at 4–4.
Austin Stephenson entered in relief during the eighth inning and helped the Eagles escape further damage after LSU Shreveport threatened with a runner aboard. The Pilots eventually found the deciding run in the ninth after consecutive doubles placed the winning run 90 feet away before a sacrifice fly sealed the 5–4 final.
Manzanillo led Oklahoma Wesleyan offensively with three hits and two RBIs, while Morales added two hits including the eighth-inning home run. Diaz scored twice as the Eagles finished with 10 hits in the contest.
Oklahoma Wesleyan will now move into the elimination bracket and face Loyola University New Orleans on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
