Forcing extra innings in game one but falling 5-3 to start the evening, the Pack fell in a close 5-1 game two
WESTWEGO, La. - Hosting the top ranked team in the country, the Loyola University New Orleans baseball team lost in two competitive match ups with Faulkner Friday afternoon at Segnette Field.
The Wolf Pack (15-14) struck first in game one, sending eight batters to the plate in the bottom of the second inning. After Payton Alexander reached on a single and stole second base, Ben Condara drew a walk before Mick Dubic was hit by a pitch to load the bases. In the ensuing at-bat for Loyola, Charlie Seiter was hit by a pitch to bring one run in for the Pack, before Rawlings Elam drew a walk to bring in a second. Faulkner (26-2) would steal a run back in the third, their only run they were able to muster off of Loyola starter Jason Roussel in his six innings.
In the top of the seventh, the Eagles added two more to take a 3-2 advantage, before freshman Zachary Cook slapped his first career home run over the left field fence to tie it up and force extra-innings. As the game reached the ninth inning, Faulkner was able to plate two more with Loyola unable to respond, giving the visitors the game one victory 5-3.
The top-ranked team in the NAIA plated the first runs of game two, taking a 3-0 advantage after two innings. In the bottom of the third, Elam reached base on a hit-by-pitch, quickly swiping second base to put a runner in scoring position. A double by Brandon Wilson Jr., one of his three two-baggers on the day, brought Elam in to get the Wolf Pack on the board. One run would be all Loyola could plate however, eventually falling by a score of 5-1.
The Wolf Pack will look to steal a game from the Eagles tomorrow, March 18th, as they play their final game of the series at 11 a.m. at Segnette Field.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Doug Faust
"What's encouraging is that we pitched and played well enough to give ourselves a chance against the number one team in the country in both games. We had a late lead with one out in the last inning in that first game, and they took it away from us. I'm not going to say that we gave them anything or that we beat ourselves, they got hits and they do what good teams do with their backs against the wall."
"Last inning of the [first] game, they got hits and outscored us, tied it up, and we just couldn't score again. It's frustrating because the guys were really focused and ready to play today, and we played well. We played clean baseball for the most part and we pitched well. Both of their pitchers in both games were good, so that kind of limited what we could do offensively, but we gave ourselves a chance in both games. So I hope we try to do the same thing tomorrow, give ourselves a chance to salvage a game from the series."
Pack Facts
Brandon Wilson Jr. collected three hits across both games today, all of which were doubles.
Zachary Cook hit his first career home run in the bottom of the seventh inning of game one to send it to extra innings.
Cook now becomes the seventh member of the team to go yard this season, and the fourth freshman.
Loyola stole four bases in today's doubleheader, and now have 47 swiped bags in 30 games on the year.
Game one starter Jason Roussel tossed 6 innings, only allowing three hits and one earned run.
Roussel has allowed two or less earned runs in all eight of his appearances this season, owning a 2.93 ERA in 27.2 innings of work.
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.
