(New Orleans, La.) Loyola University New Orleans baseball fell to No. 2 Faulkner in both games of a doubleheader today, losing the first game 4-0 and the second game 8-2.
Loyola (14-16, 3-12 SSAC) was simply unable to get anything going against Faulkner starting pitcher Victor Arche in the first game. The Wolf Pack managed just two hits against Arche, a bunt single by Jordan Wilson in the fourth inning and a Rawlings Elam infield single in the seventh inning. In both instances, the Eagles (27-3, 11-1 SSAC) erased the Pack runner with a double play on the very next batter. Arche went the full seven innings for the Eagles, striking out nine Loyola batters and walking none.
Faulkner used its power hitting prowess to pull ahead of the Pack in the second and third innings. Alexis Torres led off the second with a solo home run over the left field wall while Randy Joung homered over the right field fence to start the third inning. Of Faulkner's 12 hits, six of them were for extra bases.
Joung finished the game 3-4 with two RBI while Nick Cain hit 2-3 with a run scored. Joung, Cain, Greg Howard and Robert Llera each had a double for the Eagles.
Kevin Lindsey put forth a valiant effort on the mound for the Pack, striking out eight and allowing four earned runs in seven innings. But he took the loss for Loyola, moving to 3-4 on the season.
The Wolf Pack started off the scoring in the second game as John Nicholson singled to score Wilson in the bottom of the first inning. But the Pack would only lead for a short time as the Eagles power hitting once again took over. Cody Sos homered to left field in the top of the second as Faulkner took a 2-1 lead over Loyola. Faulkner then scored one run in the third inning, two in the fourth and three in the fifth when Robert Llera, Dennis Morton and Dario Polanco hit back-to-back-to-back home runs.
Luis Anguizola doubled to score Alexander Lorenzo in the sixth inning to finish up the Wolf Pack scoring.
Kurt Lipscomb earned his conference-leading sixth win of the season, striking out six and allowing two hits in five innings of work. Dylan Gregoire took the loss for the Pack, surrendering eight earned runs in five innings. Daniel Posway pitched two scoreless innings in relief while Stewart Campbell and Connor Thurman each threw one inning without surrendering a run.
Nicholson finished 2-4 with one RBI. Lorenzo, Newman and Anguizola had one hit each for Loyola.
The Wolf Pack will be back in action on Tuesday, March 17 as they host Jesuit rival Spring Hill College in a doubleheader, starting at 3 p.m.
