The Wolf Pack bats came alive in game one for the 8-6 win behind Payton Alexander's 3-4 performance with a double and home run
MOBILE, Ala. - Taking to the road for a weekday doubleheader Tuesday afternoon, the Loyola University New Orleans baseball team split with NCAA Division II foe Spring Hill College at Historic Stan Galle Field, taking game one 8-6 before falling in the second 13-4.
The Wolf Pack (16-24) offense jumped out to a quick lead in game one today, picking up two runs in the first inning. A leadoff double from Zachary Cook got things started, with Charlie Seiter reaching base after he was hit by a pitch. Two batter later, Allen Dennis doubled to left-centerfield to bring both runners in.
In the top of the second inning, the bats remained hot for Loyola, with Rawlings Elam reaching second on an infield single and ensuing throwing error on a pickoff attempt. In the next at-bat, Cook reached base again, this time on a single, advancing Elam to third before Cook stole his eighth base of the year to put runners in scoring position. A single by Seiter brought both runners across the plate, before the junior came home on a wild pitch to make it 5-0.
While the Badgers (16-14) would score in the third, Loyola plated one run in both the fourth and fifth innings, making it a 7-1 game. Spring Hill battled back however, making it a one run game heading into the seventh and final inning, before Payton Alexander connected on his third home run of the season to leadoff the seventh. The Wolf Pack would keep Spring Hill off the board to close out the game, claiming their 16th victory on the season.
In game two Spring Hill was first to take the early lead, scoring five runs in the first inning. While the Pack were able to score one in the top of the second after Gabriel Trastoy singled to plate Jase Biehl, the Badgers responded with two more in the bottom of the inning. As Loyola attempted to chip away at the lead yet again in the third inning, plating one, the home team yet again came back with more runs to take a 10-2 lead.
The Wolf Pack were able to bring in two more runs in the fifth inning but it would not be enough, as they would split the doubleheader with the Badgers and drop game two 13-4
Loyola will remain on the road this weekend as they get back to their conference schedule, facing Brewton-Parker in a three-game series beginning with a doubleheader on Friday, April 6th at 4 p.m.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Doug Faust
"We swung the bats well in game one from the first inning-on and jumped out to a big lead. Mickey Toscano had a good start for us in the first game, and then Brenden Taravella came in and saved it for us. It got closer than we would have liked, but Spring Hill can hit. We pitched well enough, swung the bats really well and did enough defensively to win the first game."
"In the second game we obviously didn't pitch well enough. They jumped on us with a couple of big innings. All in all, to get the split on the road against a big team to break the losing streak - we told the guys to keep doing what you're doing and things will turn around, and they did for us today."
Pack Facts
Zachary Cook went a combined 5-6, with four runs, two doubles, and a stolen base in today's doubleheader.
Cook now leads the team with 19 runs scored and nine doubles this season, and is a perfect 8-8 in stolen base attempts.
Freshman Payton Alexander launched his third home run of the season in game one today.
Alexander went a combined 4-6 with two runs, two RBI, a double, a home run and one stolen base today.
Michael Toscano made his second pitching start of the season in game one, and now owns a 1.50 ERA with four strikeouts as a pitcher on the year.
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.
