Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 Loyola welcomed No. 8 Freed-Hardeman to Segnette Field Friday for a four-game series, and the Wolf Pack earned one win Friday to split the first of two doubleheaders
WESTWEGO – The Loyola Wolf Pack faced their toughest competition of the season in the first of two doubleheaders against No. 8 Freed-Hardeman, splitting the two games at Segnette Field Friday.
The Wolf Pack started the day with a 2-0 win over the Lions then lost the nightcap 3-2. They're now 8-3 overall while Freed-Hardeman is 5-1. The two will play a pair of games Saturday to close out the four-game series.
Game 1: Loyola 2, Freed-Hardeman 0
Wyatt Lankford pitched six innings of shutout ball and the Wolf Pack scored two runs in the first inning to claim a 2-0 Game 1 win. Lankford allowed three hits and struck out three before handing the ball to Gary Cavallo Jr. to close out the seventh inning.
Lankford didn't find himself in too much trouble throughout his outing, pitching clean innings in the first and fourth frames while only allowing three baserunners in the first four innings. Cavallo allowed a walk in the seventh, but otherwise breezed through the seventh inning to earn his second save of the season.
The lone runs of the game came in the first inning when Brandon Duhon and Aaron Davis led off the inning with back to back singles. Duhon singled to left while Davis used his speed to reach on a bunt attempt. After Allen Dennis' sacrifice fly moved the runners over, Payton Alexander hit a hard ground ball through the infield to plate the two runs.
Loyola only had three baserunners in the remainder of the game, but the Wolf Pack's pitching efforts were good enough to earn the win.
Game 2: Freed-Hardeman 3, Loyola 2
The Wolf Pack got on the board first with lone runs in second and third innings, but the Lions scored two in the fifth and the go-ahead run in the seven to claim a win.
Gabriel Trastoy got the game's first RBI in the second with a single to right-center field, then Dennis made it a 2-0 game with an RBI single in the next inning. Patrick Crifasi scored the first run after earning a walk two at-bats before Trastoy, and Davis got on board before Dennis via a single.
The Lions used two hits in the fifth inning to tie the game, but Loyola pitcher Wes Anderson left three Freed-Hardeman base runners stranded to not allow any more damage. In the seventh inning, however, the Lions got a two-out walk then a double to the right-field wall during the next at-bat to grab their first lead of the day.
Anderson pitched well, scattering five hits while giving up three earned runs over his seven innings of work. Brett Fisackerly struck out two in his two clean innings as well.
"We just wanted to go out and compete, earn some respect, and show we can compete against some of the best teams out there, and we did. We have to build our identity, and I think we're on our way to doing that.
Both guys on the mound threw outstanding today, and pitching gives you confidence, and ours certainly did today. It was a tough day to hit with the wind blowing in, and those guys took advantage of it and did a good job."
On his message to the team for tomorrow:
"Nothing new, just go back to work, do what we do. It's a pretty simple process, one pitch at a time. We'll regroup, learn from some of the mistakes we made tonight, and go back to work tomorrow."
Pack Facts
Friday's Game 1 win marked the highest-ranked team Loyola has beaten since the Wolf Pack swept Freed-Hardeman in two games last season when it was ranked No. 4.
Gary Cavallo Jr. earned his second save of the season, doubling his career save total from his previous three seasons with the Wolf Pack.
Aaron Davis has stolen a base in every game he's played in this season, swiping a base in each of the two games Friday to bring his season total to four.
Brett Fisackerly pitched two clean innings in Game 2 against Freed-Hardeman, and he hasn't allowed a hit or a base runner in four innings this season.
Wyatt Lankford recorded three strikeouts in Game 1, pushing his season total to a team-high 26. He's only walked five batters, too.
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.
