Loyola crushes the Crusaders 24-2 in game one today, and picks up a 6-3 win in game two to take the four-game series sweep
WESTWEGO, La. - In the third and fourth games of their series with Dallas Christian College, the Loyola University New Orleans baseball team took the 24-2 win in game one of the day, before a 6-3 victory in the next at Segnette Field Saturday afternoon.
While the Crusaders (0-11) struck first in the top of the 1st with two quick runs, it would be all they could manage for the rest of game one. The Wolf Pack (11-4) reclaimed the lead on a single swing, after Allen Dennis hit a grand slam over the left field fence to bring in Zachary Cook, Nathan Law and Payton Alexander. Loyola extended their lead even further with two more in the second, as John Hernandez singled to short before Jase Biehl pinch ran, stealing a base and scoring on a single by Rawlings Elam. Dennis eventually came to the plate and hit a sacrifice fly, already his fifth RBI of the game, to score Elam.
Up 6-2, the Pack weren't satisfied, bringing nine runs across the plate in the third inning, highlighted by an Alexander grand slam. Adding one more run in the fourth, Loyola brought in eight more during the bottom of the sixth inning, with yet another grand slam, this time by Luke LaCoste. The Pack would go on to win by a score of 24-2, their most runs scored on the season, behind 21 hits, also a season best.
In game two of the day, and number four in the series, Loyola eyed the sweep. In the bottom of the first inning, Jesse Jordan and Law reached base before Dennis smacked a single to center field, bringing across both runners. The Wolf Pack would add one more run in the third behind Dennis' second home run of the day, before scoring two more in the bottom of the fourth after Dallas Christian got on the board with one of their own. In the next inning, the Crusaders plated two more to make it a 5-3 game. Freshman Aakash Patel and sophomore Shaun Prats came in to close out the final two innings for Loyola, but not before they plated one more in the sixth to bring the final score to 6-3.
The Wolf Pack will remain at home this week, hosting NCAA Division II opponent Spring Hill College for a doubleheader on Wednesday, February 28th beginning at 4 p.m. at Segnette Field.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Doug Faust
"In both games we got some good pitching from our starters. We played really well defensively as well. We batted well in the first game and had three grand slams from three freshmen, which I've never seen before."
"The second game, we didn't swing the bat quite as well, but got the hits we needed to. We used eight pitchers in the doubleheader and they all threw well, which is encouraging. A Lot of young guys got on the field and they contributed, which is encouraging for the future."
Pack Facts
The Wolf Pack last scored 20 runs in a 20-0 win over Tougaloo last season, while their 24 scored in game one today were the most since a 31-4 victory over College of St. Joseph on February 18th in 2015.
There were four home runs hit for Loyola today, as they now total seven on the season thus far, six of which have come from freshman bats.
The Pack stole six bases today, and now have 34 swipes on the year.
With 12 extra-base hits today, Loyola now owns 40 in only 15 games played.
Sophomore Nathan Law went a combined 3-7 on the day, with four runs scored, an RBI and one stolen base.
Law is now riding an eight-game hitting streak, and is batting .696 (16/23) during that span.
Redshirt freshman Allen Dennis had a monster day today, going a combined 3-5 with two home runs, one of which was a grand slam, and a total of eight RBI.
Freshman Luke LaCoste hit a grand slam in game one today, his second home run on the season.
Payton Alexander also hit his second bomb on the season, going 4-6 with three runs scored, a double, a grand slam and five RBI in game one.
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.
