Loyola wraps up the three-game series with Bethel tomorrow live from Wildcats Park. First pitch is set for 1:00 p.m.
The Loyola University New Orleans Baseball team kicked off conference play on Friday afternoon, traveling to Wildcats Park for a doubleheader against Bethel University.
The Wolf Pack dropped both games on Friday afternoon, falling in game one 3-2, before dropping the 4-0 decision in game two.
With the losses, Loyola drops to 10-12 overall and 0-2 in the SSAC.
Game One: Loyola 2, Bethel 3
IF Luis Anguizola had a big game for Loyola, going 2-for-3 with one run, one RBI and a homer. IF Blake Toscano went 2-for-4 from the plate with one stolen base, while IF Jordan Wilson chipped in a RBI and one hit in the loss.
On the mound, P Kevin Lindsey (3-3) got the loss after giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits while striking out six.
With the score tied at 0-0 in the top of the second, Anguizola led off the inning with a double to deep right field. Following a popup, IF Ben Condara connected on a single through a hole in the infield to advance Anguizola to second and give the Wolf Pack two men on with one out. Both runners would be left stranded as Loyola ended the second with a fly out and a popup.
Lindsey kept the Wildcats off the board in the second to keep the game at 0-0 heading in to the top of the third.
Following a groundout, IF Blake Toscano singled to right field and then stole second to give Loyola one man on with one out. After a fly out, OF Jordan Wilson came to the plate and smacked the second pitch of the at bat to left field, scoring Toscano from third to put the Wolf Pack up 1-0.
Bethel responded in the bottom of the third with a run to knot the game at 1-1 heading in to the fourth inning.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Wildcats tacked on two runs to take their first lead of the game at 3-1.
With the score at 3-1 in the top of the sixth, Anguizola connected on his third home run of the season to bring Loyola within one run at 3-2.
Trailing 3-2 in the seventh, Toscano singled to put the tying run on first with two outs. Toscano would be left stranded on first after a strikeout ended the inning and the game with Bethel earning the 3-2 victory in game one.
Game Two: Loyola 0, Bethel 4
Anguizola led Loyola in game two with two hits, while IF Stephen Price, OF Alexander Lorenzo, C Lance Liccardi and IF Britt Pellegrin each collected one hit in the loss.
Neither team recorded a hit in the first 4.5 innings and the score remained 0-0 heading in to the bottom of the fifth. Bethel tacked on three runs in the inning to take the 3-0 advantage after five.
Loyola managed to get two hits in the next two innings but would be unable to put any runs on the board.
In the bottom of the seventh, the Wildcats put up one more run to stretch the lead to 4-0 heading in to the eighth.
In the ninth, the Wolf Pack recorded three-straight groundouts to end the inning and the game to take the 4-0 loss.
Loyola wraps up the three-game series with Bethel tomorrow, March 5, with a single game set to start at 1:00 p.m.
