After pushing the top-ranked Eagles to extra innings yesterday, the Wolf Pack drop both games (12-2,12-0) to Faulkner at Harrison Field. Loyola now 16-18 overall and 2-7 in the SSAC.
After pushing the No. 1 team in the country to extra innings last night, the Loyola University New Orleans Baseball team returned to Harrison Field on Sunday afternoon to take on the top-ranked Faulkner University in a Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) doubleheader.
Despite almost falling victim to a tremendous upset yesterday, the Eagles bounced back in a big way on Sunday afternoon, defeating the Wolf Pack 12-2 and 12-0 at home.
Following Sunday's action, Loyola now sits at 16-18 overall and 2-7 in the SSAC. Conversely, No. 1 Faulkner jumps to 26-4 on the year and a perfect 9-0 in conference play with the two victories.
Game One: Loyola 2, Faulkner 12
Luis Anguizola (JR/David, Chiriqui, Panama) and Spencer Rosebohm collected the only hits for the Wolf Pack in game one, with Rosenbohm adding one of the two RBI in the loss. Blake Toscano (JR/Metairie, La.) added the other RBI for the Wolf Pack, while Daniel Pappas (SR/Chicago, Ill.) and Peyton Senner (JR/New Orleans, La.) each tallied a run.
On the mound, Kevin Lindsey (SR/Baton Rouge, La.) (4-3) got saddled with the loss after allowing eight runs (six earned) on five hits with two walks in four innings pitched.
The score stayed at 0-0 after the first inning, before the Eagles tacked on six runs over the next two innings to take the commanding 6-0 lead heading in to the fourth.
After a scoreless fourth, Loyola used two walks to put two men on with one out in the top of the fifth. Rosenbohm stepped to the plate and sent a double to right field to score Pappas and put the visitors on the board. Toscano scored Senner from third with a groundout and the Wolf Pack cut the deficit to four runs, 6-2, entering the bottom half of the inning.
Up 6-2, the Eagles manufactured five runs in the bottom of the fifth to stretch the advantage to 11-2.
Loyola had one last chance in the top of seventh, but a groundout, strikeout and fly out ended the game to give the home team the 11-2 win.
Game Two: Loyola 0, Faulkner 12
The Wolf Pack struggled from the plate again in game three, with Rawlings Elam (SO/Houston, Tx.) and Alexander Lorenzo (JR/Miami, Fla.) collecting the only hits, with Elam recording a team-high six put outs.
Joseph Kuchler (SO/Metairie, La.) (2-2) got the loss, surrendering eight runs (eight earned) on seven hits with four walks in five innings pitched.
In the bottom of the first, the Eagles used two hits and one Wolf Pack error to take the 3-0 lead heading in to the second.
Neither team managed to score a run in the second and the score remained 3-0 entering the third.
Faulkner tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the third to stretch their cushion to 5-0 after three.
The Wolf Pack's best scoring opportunity came in the fourth, with Elam and Lorenzo both singling. Following a fielder's choice, Lorenzo was forced out at second to leave two men stranded and keep the score at 5-0.
The Eagles put up seven more runs over the next three innings to extend the advantage to 12-0 entering the final inning.
Loyola managed to land one baserunner in the seventh, but he would be left stranded following a flyout to seal the 12-0 victory for the Eagles.
The Wolf Pack return home on Wednesday, March 23, to welcome NCAA DI Southern University to Segnette Field for a single game set to start at 6:00 p.m.
