The NAIA Ball Big Series of the Week is brought to you by Sho-Me League
Shreveport,LA- This week we head down to Louisiana for a highly anticipated matchup between the #10 Central Methodist Eagles and the #1 LSU-Shreveport Pilots. The Pilots have been dominating all season entering the series with a perfect 14-0 record so far this season. However, the Eagles are no push over as they are a thriving 6-2 so far and are looking to get their fourth Top 25 win of the season.
History
As these two powerhouse programs face off, this isn’t their first time meeting up, The Pilots are leading the all-time record 4-0.
Schedule-all times local
Saturday, February 22nd at 1:00pm
Saturday, February 22nd at 4:00pm
Sunday, February 23rd at 12:00pm
Teams
#1 LSUS Pilots (14-0/3-0) – Coming in as one of the final remaining undefeated teams left in the country, it is easy to see why the Pilots of LSU-Shreveport took over the #1 spot in our latest media poll. Coach Brad Neffendorf has this year’s squad looking like a perennial power yet again and it all starts on the mound. Isaac Rohde returns for his second season in Shreveport and the LHP has certainly looked like the preseason All-American that was advertised at the start of the season. Rohde currently leads the country in strikeouts with 39 to only 3 walks and a 2.28 ERA through 4 starts. We got to see Rohde live at the 2025 Cajun Collision a few weeks ago against a really good MACU lineup as he pitched a complete game shutout, and this weekend should be another great test against this CMU lineup. Draven Zeigler will back up Rohde as the #2 arm and leads the country in wins with a 4-0 record and a 1.17 ERA with 33 strikeouts. The RHP is coming off back to back double digit strikeout performances and has been up to 96mph this season already. The matchup between this duo against a potent Eagles lineup will be electric to see this early in the season. On the offensive side of the ball, the Pilots return some good experience that includes 2024 RRAC Player Of The Year and preseason All-American Vantrel Reed, who hit .386 last year and is apart of a Gold Glove level middle infield with shortstop Jose Sallorin who had just 3 errors all of last season. There will be no easy outs throughout this Pilots lineup with a mix of speed and power as they look to remain perfect on the season.
#10 CMU Eagles (6-2/0-0) – Central Methodist has been one of the national powers under Head Coach Nate Breland, and the 2025 campaign is no different as he brings one of the nations best lineups down to Louisiana this weekend looking for another statement victory. Fresh off his 400th career victory against Tabor (KS), this Eagles squad boasts some of the best hitters in the country like All-American OF Carlos Negron. A native of Puerto Rico, Negron blasted 19 home runs last season with a .419 average, and will look to once again do damage against an outstanding LSU-Shreveport rotation. In between Negron in this lineup are 1B Kyle Williams and C Tanner Sears, who come into the weekend with a .414 average and a .393 average respectively. The trio is certainly one of the best in the nation and will look to produce yet again against another tough test. Foster Seitz is back on the mound for his senior season in Fayette, and got the win over Tabor in Coach Breland’s 400th victory at the Cajun Collision. He shut down an outstanding lineup that day and will look to deliver a similar result against this Pilots lineup on the road. This matchup will be one of the better ones we see all season long with some of the top talent in all the land along with two of the best coaches at this level.
Staff Picks
Conner – LSU-Shreveport
Robby – LSU-Shreveport
Tyler – LSU-Shreveport
Taylor – LSU-Shreveport
