The Pack begin their four-game series with the Crusaders taking game one 2-0, before a 4-2 win in game two
WESTWEGO, La. - Led by quality pitching performances tonight, the Loyola University New Orleans baseball team took games one and two in their series with Dallas Christian College at Segnette Field Friday night, winning 2-0 in game one and 4-2 in the second.
In game one Loyola (9-4) was led by starting pitcher Joseph Kuchler, who began his evening by striking out the side in the first inning. The Pack got on the scoreboard in the third inning, beginning with a leadoff single by Michael Toscano. After Gabriel Trastoy advanced Toscano to second on a sacrifice bunt, Rawlings Elam was awarded first base after he was hit by a pitch. A single by Nathan Law, one of his six hits tonight, loaded the bases before Ben Condara smacked a single right up the middle of the field, bringing both Toscano and Elam in to put the Wolf Pack up 2-0. Dallas Christian College (0-9) had no response to Kuchler's performance tonight, as the senior from Metairie, La. carried a no-hitter into the bottom of the seventh inning with two outs. Although the visitors would sneak in one final hit before the game concluded, Kuchler would finish the complete game shutout, tossing seven innings, allowing just one hit and striking out seven.
The visiting Crusaders were first to strike in game two, plating one in the top of the second. The Pack tied the game back up however, with Allen Dennis immediately giving the home team a runner in scoring position with a double to the right-center field gap. Dennis would eventually cross home plate on a sacrifice fly by Jesse Jordan. Dallas Christian responded again in the third, plating one more to take the advantage for the next two and a half innings.
In the bottom of the fifth, Nathan Law reached base on one of his three doubles this evening, with Mick Dubic tying the game on an RBI single moments later. A single by Jordan up the middle would plate two more, giving the Wolf Pack the 4-2 advantage. Sophomore Alexander Acevedo and freshman Brenden Taravella would combine to close the game out for the Pack, giving the team their ninth win on the season.
The Wolf Pack will play the final two games of their four-game series with the Crusaders tomorrow afternoon, with a doubleheader at Segnette Field set to begin at noon.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Doug Faust
"Tonight was yet another example of how we've been playing recently, well pitched and well played defensively. Again, we had enough hits to score more runs, we've just been struggling to get the big hit, leaving a lot of guys on base. We're fortunate in both games to have gotten big two-out singles that scored two runs."
"We talk to the guys about how we're winning, but we have to swing the bats better to win in our conference, and conference play starts next weekend. Pitching and defense have been fine and the guys' attitudes are great. They want to compete, they want to hit, it's just not happening for us right now. Hopefully it starts clicking for us in the next week or so."
Pack Facts
The Wolf Pack have now won four-straight, and own an 8-3 record at Segnette Field.
Sophomore Nathan Law was unstoppable at the plate tonight, going a combined 6-6 in both games, with a run scored and three doubles.
Law is now batting .609 this season, has collected three hits in three consecutive games, and is currently riding a six game hitting streak.
Freshman Michael Toscano is now 5-10 at the plate this season, and hit his first career extra-base hit, a double, in game number one before scoring his first career run.
Joseph Kuchler has now made four starts this season, and is 2-1 with 18 innings pitched, 13 strikeouts and owns a 1.50 ERA.
Kuchler's seven K's tonight set a new career-high for strikeouts in a game.
Freshman Brenden Taravella has now appeared in eight games this season, collecting four saves with an ERA of 0.87.
You can keep up with the Pack this season by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
