The Wolf Pack swept today's doubleheader to claim the series behind strong starts from seniors Jason Roussel and Joseph Kuchler
WESTWEGO, La. - In a kind of day you often only see in a Hollywood blockbuster, the Loyola University New Orleans baseball team took games two and three of their final home series, defeating No. 11 Mobile 2-1 before claiming a 4-0 victory for the series win.
Today being senior day, it was only fitting that Wolf Pack (22-28, 5-18) senior Jason Roussel turned in a fantastic performance on the mound, tossing a complete game without allowing an earned run. While the visiting Rams (37-13, 14-7) were able to score one in the first inning on an error, Roussel closed the door on Mobile, striking out five without surrendering a walk over eight innings pitched.
With the game on the line in the bottom of the seventh and what could have been final inning, Allen Dennis led it off with a double to left field. After Jase Biehl was sent in to pinch-run at second, senior Ben Condara singled up the middle to bring the tying run in to send it to extra innings.
In the eighth, Roussel continued to work as head coach Doug Faust let his senior finish out his game, as he set the Rams down in a one-two-three inning. In the bottom of the same inning with one out, senior Spencer Rosenbohm stepped to the plate. With a 2-1 count on him the Daphne, Ala. native sent the fourth pitch of the at-bat towering over the left field fence for his third home run of the season to walk if off for Loyola.
In game two, fellow senior Joseph Kuchler was given the start on the mound in his final appearance at Segnette Field. As he has done for most of his final campaign with the Pack, he did not disappoint, registering his third complete game of the season while holding the 11th-ranked team in the country to only four hits, not surrendering a single walk and striking out two.
With two outs in the bottom of the third inning, freshman Zachary Cook stepped to the plate and connected on his second home run of the season to put the Pack up one. Loyola wasn't satisfied however, as Charlie Seiter followed the long ball up with a double of his own before Dennis joined in on the action, sending a 3-2 pitch over the left field wall for his sixth homer on the year.
The Pack added on another run in the fourth inning, with Rawlings Elam reaching second base on a single and ensuing stolen base before a single from senior Mick Dubic brought him in.
Loyola would hold on for their 22nd victory of the season, earning the 2-1 series win over No. 11 Mobile in dramatic fashion on senior day.
The Pack will take to the road to close out their regular season schedule, heading to Tuscaloosa, Ala. for a three-game series with Stillman College beginning Friday, April 27th.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Doug Faust
"I couldn't be happier for the guys after the tough conference season we've had. We were right there every weekend with everybody but have just been losing close games late, letting them get away, or not getting a big play or a big hit. Then today, in that first game, we made pitches, we made plays, and got big hits."
"It's good to see the seniors do well. Ben tied it, and then Spencer won it. It's good to win a game against one of the better teams in the conference and one of the better teams in the country. Both of our seniors pitched great today. We didn't give up an earned run in a doubleheader. Couldn't have been happier with them. Then we got timely hits throughout both games of a doubleheader."
"Hopefully, this gets us into the conference tournament. We've played with everybody in the conference this season, and we have a chance to go win some games and make something happen. We'll enjoy this, get back to work Tuesday for practice, and then play a non-conference series next weekend and get ourselves ready for the conference tournament."
Pack Facts
While Zachary Cook's 12-game hitting streak was snapped in the first game today, he connected on his second home run of the year in game two.
Over the last 14 games for the Pack, Cook is batting .373 (19/51) with 13 runs scored, two doubles, a home run, five RBI, and five stolen bases.
Senior pitchers Jason Roussel and Joseph Kuchler were lights out today, each throwing complete-game shutouts, only allowing 10 hits in 15 innings, did not allow a single walk, and struck out seven batters.
Senior Spencer Rosenbohm connected on his third home run of the season to walk-off game one.
Allen Dennis launched his sixth big-fly on the year in game two today, a two-run homer to give him a team-best 31 RBI on the season.
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.
