Loyola earns the game-three victory behind solid pitching and clutch offense
NEW ORLEANS – Tied at two runs apiece in the sixth inning, the Loyola University New Orleans baseball team stepped out in front with a homer before closing it out in the seventh for the 3-2 win over Bryant and Stratton College Tuesday afternoon at Segnette Field.
The visitors struck first in the top of the initial inning with a single run, adding another in the fourth inning, as two unearned runs were credited to starter Alexander Acevedo. Despite the two scores, Acevedo was solid in his second start of the year, going six strong innings while striking out six batters.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Pack (6-6) got to the Bobcat pitchers quickly with a leadoff single from Brandon Wilson Jr. followed by a double from Allen Dennis. A wild pitch allowed Wilson to slide across home and Dennis to advance to third, before the first baseman found his way in to score on a second wild pitch from the visitors, drawing the game even at two-all.
Two innings later, with one out in the sixth, Dennis stepped to the plate with no runners on base. On a full count pitch, Dennis slapped a ball deep to left field, sending it over the outfield fence for his fourth long ball of the year. In the bottom of the seventh, Brenden Taravella came in to shut the door on the Bobcats, striking out the side to clinch the 3-2 win for Loyola.
The Wolf Pack will remain at home this weekend and take on Rust College in a four-game series, beginning Saturday, February 23 at 1 p.m.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Doug Faust
"We got an excellent pitching performance from Alex Acevedo. I was hoping that he could give us five innings, then give the last two to Taravella, but he ended up giving us six and he was begging to go back in for the seventh inning. He did a great job for us; we had a few mistakes behind him but he was able to limit the damage and we didn't give up any big innings. Fortunately, we got to the point where we got a big hit from Allen. Then we had a couple of hits to set up the two-run inning, scored on two passed balls after we swung the bats well that inning."
"That's a good team we played, a good test for us this week with this three game series that helps us get ready for conference. It was good that we won another close one, the good sign so far early in the year is that I don't think we've lost a one-run game yet. We have four one-run wins. Sure you don't want to lose by a bunch, but at least we know that if we get it to a close game, we can find ways to pull it out. That usually leads to good things down the road."
Pack Facts
Allen Dennis went 2-3 with a double and game-winning home run, his fourth long ball of the season, and fourth in the past four days.
In his second start of the season, Alexander Acevedo pitched six innings without allowing an earned run while fanning six to earn his first win of the year.
After earning a win in a start this past weekend, Brenden Taravella came in and picked up a three-strikeout save, his second of the year.
His eight career saves moves him to third for most in a career with the Wolf Pack.
Jase Biehl threw out a baserunner at second today, his third outfield assist in this three game series.
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.
