Loyola University New Orleans baseball earned a doubleheader split today versus No. 22 Mobile, falling 3-2 in the first game before taking the second game 4-3.
SAT, 03/28/2015
Box Score - Loyola 2, Mobile 3
Box Score - Loyola 4, Mobile 3
(New Orleans, La.) Loyola University New Orleans baseball earned a doubleheader split today versus No. 22 Mobile, falling 3-2 in the first game before taking the second game 4-3.
The Rams jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the second game, scoring two in the second inning off of four hits. The Wolf Pack got one run back in the third inning when Rawlings Elam hit a sacrifice fly to center field to score Jordan Wilson.
Loyola continued to push for a comeback, loading the bases in the fourth and sixth innings, but in both situations the Pack was unable to push any runs across. In the top of the seventh inning, Chandler Durham singled through the hole at short to score Travis Tessandori and increase Mobile's lead back to two runs.
Loyola would once again loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh. This time, however, they didn't squander the opportunity. With Wolf Pack runners at each base and one out, Britt Pellegrin singled to left field to score Luis Anguizola and Carmelo LoSauro and tie the game at three apiece. With runners now at first and third, Daniel Pappas stepped to the plate and hit a fly ball to right field, which was deep enough to allow Alexander Lorenzo to tag up and score from third, giving the Pack a 4-3 lead.
Nick Moore came in to the pitch the final two innings for the Pack, relieving starter Kevin Lindsey. Moore didn't allow any Mobile hits and was able to hold the Wolf Pack lead at one run, earning his second save of the season.
Lindsey earned the win for the Pack, allowing three earned runs in seven innings of work. Lindsey struck out six and walked two, and moves to 4-5 on the year.
Lorenzo was a perfect 3-3 and scored one run while Pellegrin was 2-3 and drove in two runs. Wilson and Elam added one hit each.
Tony Andrews gave up three earned runs in 1.1 inning of relief work, and is credited with the loss. Durham, Tessandori and Roman Testani all had multi-hit games for the Rams.
In the first game of the doubleheader, it was Loyola who took an early lead, scoring two runs in the bottom of the third inning. Pinch runner Spencer Rosenbohm scored from third on a wild pitch from Mobile starting pitcher Tucker Ward for the first run of the ballgame. Then, with Jordan Wilson standing on third base, Allen Newman hit a line drive up the middle to bring in the second Loyola run of the inning.
The score remained 2-0 until the sixth inning. In the top of the sixth inning, with Mobile runners on second and third, Dakota Spikes grounded out to third base to score Tessandori from third and cut the Pack lead down to one run. The next Rams batter, Chandler Durham, hit a two-run home run down the left field line to give Mobile a 3-2 advantage.
In the seventh and final inning, it appeared as if Loyola would take back its lead as the first three Wolf Pack batters of the inning reached base. But despite their best efforts, the Wolf Pack was unable to bring home the tying run. Mobile's closer Trey Cockrell retired three straight Loyola batters and the Rams were able to hang on for the 3-2 win.
Cockrell pitched one scoreless inning in relief and earned his seventh save of the season. Ward gets the win as he allowed just two earned runs in six innings of work.
Connor Thurman takes the loss for the Pack, giving up one earned run 1.2 innings. Thurman gave up the home run to Durham in sixth inning. Starting pitcher Joel Buhler tossed 5.1 innings, striking out six batters and allowing just three hits.
Loyola had 11 hits compared to just five for Mobile, but Loyola left a total of seven runners on base.
Elam, Lance Licciardi and John Nicholson had two hits each for the Pack while Wilson, Newman, Pellegrin and Anguizola added one each. Wilson and Rosenbohm each scored a run while Newman had the lone Loyola RBI.
Loyola will be back in action on Tuesday, March 31 with a rematch against NCAA Division I opponent University of New Orleans. The Wolf Pack defeated the Privateers 8-4 early last week. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. at Privateer Park.
