Box Score
(New Orleans, La.) In a game that they needed to win in order to remain in contention for a spot in the SSAC Championship, the Loyola University New Orleans baseball team came up just short today at Kirsch-Rooney Stadium, falling to Brewton-Parker 3-2. With the loss, the Wolf Pack is officially unable to qualify for the conference postseason tournament.
The Wolf Pack (22-26, 8-20 SSAC) and the Barons (14-19, 9-14 SSAC) were knotted at two apiece for the majority of the game, with neither team able to break the tie for four straight innings. Finally, in the top of the eighth inning, Brandon Bynam doubled to deep right-center field to bring in Richard Gay from the second to score what turned out to be the winning run.
With two outs in the bottom of the eighth, Carmelo LoSauro also hit a double to deep right-center, giving the Pack a runner in scoring position with a chance to tie. But Brewton-Parker starting pitcher Michael Venturelli was able to strike out the next Loyola batter, ending the Wolf Pack threat. And in the ninth inning, Loyola was unable to put any sort of rally together, as the Pack side was retired in order.
Loyola was the first team in the scorebooks in this afternoon's game, as Luis Anguizola singled through the hole at shortstop in the top of the first inning to score Rawlings Elam and give the Wolf Pack an early 1-0 lead. Brewton-Parker scored twice in the top of the third to take a 2-1 lead before a John Nicholson sacrifice fly brought in Elam for in the bottom of the inning for another Pack run.
Venturelli earns the win for the Barons, allowing five hits and one earned run in the full nine innings. Venturelli struck out nine batters as well.
Kevin Lindsey picks up the loss for the Pack, giving up three earned runs in eight innings of work.
Anguizola finished with two hits and one RBI while LoSauro, Elam and Jordan Wilson had one hit each.
The Pack will finish up the series against Brewton-Parker tomorrow with a doubleheader at Wesley Barrow Stadium, starting at 3 p.m.
Today's game was senior day as Loyola athletics honored five baseball seniors: Connor Thurman, Allen Newman, Carmelo LoSauro, John Nicholson and Brian Reaney.
Connor Thurman has made 67 appearances on the mound for Loyola over three seasons. The relief pitcher from Belle Chasse, Louisiana has an 8-4 win-loss record during his career, and has recorded 63 strikeouts in 109.2 innings. Thurman tied the Loyola single season saves record during the 2014 season when he recorded seven saves. He also finished the 2014 season with four wins and zero losses. Thurman has a 4.91 ERA this season and has recorded a team-high three saves. His 12 career saves is tied for the most saves in Wolf Pack history.
Allen Newman has played in a total of 88 games for Loyola over three seasons. The infielder from Belle Chasse, Louisiana is batting .239 for his career with 32 hits, 32 runs scored and 15 RBI. During his first season with the Pack, Newman hit .362 and scored 13 runs. He has earned SSAC All-Academic honors in 2012 and 2013.
Carmelo LoSauro has played in a total of 127 games for Loyola over three seasons. The infielder from Land O'Lakes, Florida is currently batting .278 for his career with 113 hits, 30 doubles, one home run, 48 runs scored and 73 RBI. LoSauro is hitting .320 this season and is second on the team in RBI with 31 and fourth in doubles with 11. In his first season with the Pack, he hit .303 and led the team with 33 RBI.
John Nicholson has played in a total of 113 games for Loyola over three seasons. The infielder from San Diego, California is currently batting .331 for his career with 116 hits, 52 walks, 27 doubles and four home runs. He has scored 73 runs while driving in 70. Nicholson's .329 average and 16 doubles this season both rank second on the team, and he leads the Wolf Pack with four home runs and 36 RBI. He also ranks 37th in the NAIA and fourth in the SSAC in doubles, 20th in the SSAC in batting average, 11th in RBI and sixth in on-base percentage. Nicholson was named to the SSAC All-Academic team in 2012 and 2013.
Brian Reaney has played in a total 76 games over four seasons with the Pack. The infielder from Chalmette, Louisiana is currently batting .208 for his career with a .394 on-base percentage. He has 30 hits for his career with six doubles, one triple and one home run. Reaney has a .429 on-base percentage this season, which ranks third on the team. For his efforts in the classroom, Reaney was named a Daktronics-NAIA Scholar Athlete last season and was awarded SSAC All-Academic honors his freshman, sophomore and junior seasons.
