Wolf Pack defeat the Warhawks for just the third time in program history.
Following a 7-6 defeat of NCAA Division I Southern University on Tuesday, the Loyola University New Orleans Baseball team were given another formidable task on Friday; try and take down No. 8 Auburn University at Montgomery and build on their 1.5 game lead over Blue Mountain College for the final spot in the Southern States Athletic Conference (SSAC) Championship.
Despite the odds being against them, the Wolf Pack used eight strong innings by Daniel Posway (SR/Sugarland, Texas) to pull the 2-1 upset over the Warhawks in game one of the three-game series.
With the win, just its third all-time against AUM, Loyola improves to 21-28 on the year and 6-15 in the league.
Blake Toscano (JR/Metairie, La.) and Luis Anguizola (JR/David, Chiriqui, Panama) both recorded two hits and one RBI in the victory, with Anguizola adding a game-high 13 putouts.
On the mound, Posway (3-7) got the victory after allowing just one run (one earned) on six hits with three strikeouts in eight innings pitched. Kevin Lindsey (SR/Baton Rouge, La.) took over in the ninth and recorded two strikeouts to record his first career save.
With the score knotted at 0-0 entering the bottom of the second inning, Ben Condara (SO/Houston, Tx.) led off with a walk. With two outs, Daniel Pappas (SR/Chicago, Ill.) connected on a single to advance Condara and give Loyola two men on. A walk by Spencer Rosenbohm (SO/Daphne, Ala.) loaded the bases before a single from Toscano would score Condara and put Loyola up 1-0.
The Warhawks did not record their first hit until the third inning, but they made it count as they scored one run to tie the game at 1-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, Rosenbohm singled to left and advanced to second following a sacrifice bunt by Toscano. With two outs, Anguizola singled to center to score Rosenbohm and give the Wolf Pack the lead back at 2-1.
With the score stuck at 2-1 in the ninth, Head Coach Doug Faust called on his ace Lindsey to close out the Warhawks. Lindsey answered the call by striking out two in the inning to give Loyola the 2-1 victory at home.
The Wolf Pack will close out their three-game series with AUM tomorrow, April 23, with a doubleheader set to start at 1:00 p.m.
