The Briar Cliff baseball team's eight-game winning streak came to an end as they fell on the road 17-7 to No. 4 LSU Shreveport on Monday evening.  

"We gave them way too many free bases today both on the mound and defensively", said head coach Corby McGlauflin. "We put together nice at-bats all day, but you can't beat a top-five team in the county with sloppy defense. At the end of the day, it was a great trip and we look forward to getting into conference play!"

The Chargers are averaging 8.1 runs per game, while the BC pitching staff allows only 4.6 runs per game. 

Game 1 – L, 7-17
After a scoreless first inning, the Chargers found some momentum in the top of the second frame following a Quentin Evers hit by pitch and a Jared Sitzmann walk. BC, however, was unable to capitalize stranding two runners on base. 

LSU Shreveport plated the first runs of the game in the bottom of the second. Despite finding two outs early in the frame, the Pilots planted runners on base after two hits, a walk, a hit batter and a critical Charger error. After two innings, BC found themselves in a 4-0 deficit. 

The Briar Cliff offense couldn't piece hits together in the third, but the Charger defense kept the game close, carding a three-up three-down bottom half of the third.  

The Blue and Gold fought back in the top of the fourth inning plating two runs on two hits. Connor Lange singled to right field to open the frame and was followed by an Q. Evers walk. Jake Chronic found the timely hit as he roped a two-RBI double down the left field line to cut the lead to 2-4. 

The Pilots would answer with three more runs of their own in the bottom of the fourth. After an opening double and walk, both runners were advanced to scoring position on a passed ball. Trevor Burkart lined a two-RBI double to left-center field and later scored on a stolen base plus an error to push the score to 7-2 in favor of LSU Shreveport. 

The Cliff's offense couldn't get anything rolling in the fifth as the Pilots managed to push four more runs across the plate. LSUS found four hits as they pushed their lead to 11-2. 

BC responded with four runs in the sixth. The Chargers sent all nine hitters to the plate as they carded four hits. Q. Evers tallied a leadoff single and was copied by pinch-hitter Cyler Melvin who roped a single to left field. With two outs, Devon Farrell singled to load the bases with Matthew Hmielewski due up. Hmielewski reach on a crucial Pilot error that plated two Charger runs. Trey Rogers recorded another timely hit with a two-RBI double to left field to cut the lead to 6-11. 

The Pilots expanded the lead back to 13-6, scoring two ones off one hit and a Charger mistake. 

In a come-from-behind attempt, BC managed to push one more run across in the seventh after singles from Q. Evers and Chronic. Chronic stole second to put both runners in scoring position. Evers managed to score the Chargers' final run on a passed ball. 

Briar Cliff's defense struggled to keep the Pilots off the basepaths in the final frame. LSUS loaded the based with a single, Charger error and a walk. Ryan Davenport collected an RBI on a fielder's choice. Davenport stole second, forcing an error that allowed another Pilot run to cross. After another walk, the Pilots tallied two more RBI singles to end the game 17-7 in seven innings.  

The Chargers carded eight hits in the contest. Q. Evers and Chronic led the way with two hits apiece. Rogers, Lange, Melvin and Farrell all tallied one hit apiece. Chronic, Rogers and Hmielewski each recorded two RBIs. 

The Chargers prep for the home opener at Bishop Mueller Field as they are scheduled to face Mount Marty in back-to-back doubleheaders on Saturday, March 18. The first pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. 

#BattleOn