Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 For the second straight day, the Loyola Wolf Pack and the Freed-Hardeman Lions split a doubleheader to each walk away with two wins over the weekend
WESTWEGO – The Loyola Wolf Pack earned another win over No. 8 Freed-Hardeman Saturday, as each team picked up wins in the second doubleheader of the weekend. The Wolf Pack moved their record 9-4 after going 2-2 this weekend against the Lions, and it's the second straight season they've beaten the Lions twice when they've been ranked in the Top 10.
Loyola is back in action Tuesday with a doubleheader against Bryant & Stratton-Albany starting at 5 p.m.
Game 1: Loyola 5, Freed-Hardeman 4
Trailing 4-1 to Freed-Hardeman in the top of the fourth, Alexander Acevedo came into pitch and shut the Lions offense down with three innings of three-hit ball. He struck out three and walked none, but more importantly, he kept the Lions off the board in hopes of a Wolf Pack comeback.
Loyola entered the bottom of the sixth inning with only three hits and one run, but the Wolf Pack got two hits and four runs in the frame to take the lead late. Brandon Duhon, Aaron Davis and Allen Dennis led off the inning with a single and two hit by pitches, then Payton Alexander made it a 4-3 game with a two-RBI single down the left-field line. Pinch-runner Zach Cook scored on a wild pitch two batters later, and Patrick Crifasi laid down a bunt that scored Alexander, which gave Loyola the 5-4 advantage.
Acevedo got the first two outs in the seventh, but Freed-Hardeman threatened with two, two-out hits. Brett Fisackerly came in and earned the save by getting the final out on four pitches.
Game 2: Freed-Hardeman 2, Loyola 0
The two teams remained scoreless through the first eight innings, but Freed-Hardeman scored two in the top of the ninth to take the second game of the doubleheader. The Lions started the ninth with a walk then a sacrifice bunt to put a runner in scoring position. A single by pinch-hitter Zach Sanders scored the go-ahead run, then a squeeze bunt later in the inning made it 2-0.
Alexander started the bottom of the ninth with a leadoff walk, but the next three Wolf Pack batters were put out in order to end the game. Loyola left seven runners on base in the outing, as well as leaving four in scoring position.
Loyola's bats were stifled by FHU's starting pitcher Austin Steel, only recording three hits in the game. Those three hits all came in the fourth, too, as the Wolf Pack couldn't take advantage of a bases-loaded, one-out situation.
Pack Facts
In 4.1 innings of work, this season Brett Fisackerly has faced the minimum 13 batters.
Brandon Duhon had a stolen base in each of the games Saturday, bringing his season total to 17. He hasn't been caught stealing yet this season, and he has a swiped bag in seven of the 13 games.
Payton Alexander had a hit in each of the four games this season, and whether it was hit, walk or hit by pitch, he's now reached base in all 13 games.
Alexander Acevedo pitched three innings in relief in Game 1 to earn the win, and it was his first win as a pitcher since Feb. 19, 2019.
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.
