After dropping the first game of the evening 13-7, the Pack responded with solid pitching in game two, paired with a couple offensive rallies for a 7-3 win
WESTWEGO, La. - Hosting NCAA Division-II opponent Spring Hill College for a Wednesday doubleheader, the Loyola University New Orleans baseball team took one of two, falling in game one 13-7 and taking the win in game two 7-3 at Segnette Field.
While Spring Hill (3-9) struck first in the top of the inning with a single run, Loyola (12-5) was able to respond with three in the bottom of the first. Allen Dennis picked up right where left off this past Saturday, driving in the first two runs of the game on a double. Brandon Wilson Jr. would later connect on a single to bring in Ben Condara and make it 3-1. The Wolf Pack would hold their advantage for two innings, before the Badgers scored six in the fourth to take a four-run lead. Loyola brought the game within one in the sixth inning, adding a run on a Rawlings Elam double and two more on a single by Jesse Jordan. However, Spring Hill added six more to cushion their lead in the top of the seventh, with the Pack only able to plate one in the bottom of the seventh to bring the final score to 13-7.
In game two of the evening, the Badgers offense struck first again, this time with three runs in the second inning. The Pack bounced back however, with Dennis coming across the plate on a Michael Toscano single, before Zachary Cook batted in two on a bases-loaded double to left-center field. Jordan would follow that up in the next at-bat for the Pack with a double of his own, allowing Trastoy to cross the plate. Getting the start at second base in game two, Payton Alexander smacked a sac-fly to right field to bring in Cook, bringing the score to 5-3.
Loyola's pitching staff would settle in and keep the visitors off the board to maintain the lead, with last week's SSAC Pitcher of the Week Joseph Kuchler coming in for an inning of work, before A.J. Smith bridged the way for Brenden Taravella to come in and get the two-inning save. The Pack would add two more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, as Brandon Wilson Jr. hit a single to left field to bring in Alexander, before Toscano brought in Dennis on a single up the middle.
The Wolf Pack will hit the road this weekend and begin conference play, heading to Pulaski, Tenn. for a three game series with Martin Methodist, beginning with a doubleheader on Saturday, March 3rd.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Doug Faust
"I thought we showed a lot of character coming back after the first game, falling behind in the second game yet coming back to win it the way they did. I thought certain guys pitched well, we had a chance for some of our young guys to throw with conference play this weekend, so we were kind of limited with our pitching staff. The young guys did some good things."
"Overall I was happy with our effort and the attitude the guys had the entire night. It was a good test heading into conference. Spring Hill is a good team, they can really hit and have some good arms. It was a good test heading into conference and I'm proud of the way that we came back and played the second game after losing the first one like we did."
Pack Facts
Loyola has now won at least one game in six of their seven series thus far, owning a 12-5 record overall.
Allen Dennis' bat remained hot, extending his hitting streak to eight games while going a combined 4-6 with three runs, three RBI, a double and his third home run of the season today.
Jesse Jordan got the start at left field in both games today, going a combined 4-8 with one run scored, three RBI, a double and two stolen bases.
Jordan now leads the team in swiped bags with eight.
Six members of the Wolf Pack collected two-or-more hits in at least one game today: Payton Alexander, Allen Dennis, Rawlings Elam, Jesse Jordan, Michael Toscano and Brandon Wilson Jr., with both Jordan and Wilson recording a multi-hit game in both.
Freshman Brenden Taravella came in and collected his fifth save on the season, pitching two innings in game number two while striking out four.
Taravella's 18 K's on the year now lead the team.
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.
