Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Wolf Pack swept Saturday's doubleheader over Tougaloo College, and the two will play another doubleheader Sunday starting at 11 a.m.
WESTWEGO – The Loyola Wolf Pack began the new campaign on a good note Saturday, defeating Tougaloo College 12-0 and 8-1 in a doubleheader Saturday at Segnette Field.
Tougaloo and the Wolf Pack was originally scheduled to play another doubleheader Sunday starting at 1 p.m., but due to the forecast of rain, the doubleheader has been moved up to 11 a.m.
Game 1: Loyola 12, Tougaloo 0
Wes Anderson had a solid performance on the mound with plenty of run support in his Loyola debut. While he was striking out six Tougaloo batters in four sclessless innings of five-hit ball, the Wolf Pack scored 12 runs off seven hits and eight walks.
The biggest damage came in the third inning when the Wolf Pack plated seven runs off just two hits. The Bulldogs' defense committed two errors and starting pitcher Bradford Patton walked four in the inning to help Loyola take the commanding lead. Three of those walks came with the bases loaded, too, as Allen Dennis, Brandon Wilson Jr. and Payton Alexander all picked up RBI without putting the ball in play. Ross Selvaggi brought home another run off a sacrifice fly, then two scored when Chandler Strader reached on a fielder's choice. Brandon Duhon plated Strader later in the inning on a single to center.
The Wolf Pack added a run each in the fourth and fifth innings, and three more in the sixth for good measure.
Trace Messina relieved Anderson on the mound, and he allowed just one hit in three innings while striking out five.
Game 2: Loyola 8, Tougaloo 1
The second game of the day was Loyola's best offensively. The Wolf Pack collected 10 hits, including three home runs, and the Pack scored in every inning they came to the plate. Loyola scored twice in the second and third innings, then added single runs in the first, fourth, fifth and sixth to pull away from the Bulldogs.
Dennis got things started with a solo homer in the first inning, then Alexander and Jase Biehl scored a pair of runs in the second to make it a 3-0 game. Alexander led off the second with a single, then later scored off an RBI single by Landon Trosclair. Biehl reached on an error and came home off a Duhon sacrifice fly.
Alexander scored again in the third inning, as well as Nathan Law, who doubled to lead off the frame. Following that up in the fourth and fifth where solo home runs by Trosclair and Biehl to push the Wolf Pack lead to 7-0. Selvaggi scored in the sixth to give Loyola eight runs, then the Bulldogs prevented the shutout with their lone run in the seventh.
While Loyola put runs on the board, Wyatt Lankford struck out six in his 5.1 innings of work. He also allowed just two hits and walked none.
"I was pleased with how we played overall. Both starting pitchers, Wes and Wyatt, did a great job of setting the tone and tempo. Wyatt was outstanding at pounding the strike zone, and we played good defense behind him. That correlates. Hitters did a good job, too. We hit some home runs, hit some balls hard and we stole some bags. I thought overall it was a good first day."
Pack Facts
Allen Dennis launched his first home run of the season in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader, and he's now tied for second all-time with 18 career home runs. He's one homer away from tying the program's record as well.
Loyola had eight players recorded an RBI in the first game of the day, then it had seven different players tally an RBI in the second game.
Gabe Trastoy and Brandon Duhon led the Wolf Pack with two hits each in the first game, while Payton Alexander and Landon Trosclair tallied two hits apiece in the second contest.
Jase Biehl and Alexander each scored four runs throughout the two games to lead Loyola.
Wyatt Lankford's six strikeouts in the second game was a career-high.
Trace Messina had five strikeouts in relief, which is a career-high for the junior.
You can keep up with the Pack by following Wolf Pack Athletics on Facebook at Facebook.com/LoyolaWolfPack, Twitter and Instagram @LoyolaWolfPack, and by checking out our website at LoyolaWolfPack.com.
