Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Wolf Pack used a big inning in Game 1 to claim one of the two games against LSU Alexandria Friday
NEW ORLEANS – The Loyola Wolf Pack suffered their first loss of the season Friday, but not before winning its sixth straight game to start the season. The Wolf Pack beat LSUA 7-5 in Game 1 of the doubleheader but fell 4-2 in the nightcap.
Loyola is now 6-1 overall and it'll play two more games against LSUA Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
Game 1: Loyola 7, LSU Alexandria 5
The Wolf Pack only scored in one inning but they made it count with seven runs in the third. Trailing 4-0, Jase Biehl, Gabriel Trastoy and Brandon Wilson Jr. all reached on a walk or a hit by pitch to start the frame, then a Brandon Duhon's single scored Loyola's first run of the game. Allen Dennis walked to plate another run and Chandler Strader reached on a fielder's choice to cut the deficit to 4-3.
After Payton Alexander walked to load the bases again, Ross Selvaggi stepped up to the plate and blasted a grand slam to left field to make it a 7-4 Loyola lead.
LSU Alexandria's runs came in the first, second and fifth, taking a 3-0 lead after the opening frame and a 4-0 lead after the second. The Generals cut the Wolf Pack lead to 7-5 with a lone run in the fifth, but Loyola's Gary Cavallo Jr. only allowed LSUA to get one hit in the final two innings.
Wes Anderson improved to 3-0 as a starting pitcher, as he allowed five runs - all earned - on five hits in 4.1 innings. He also struck out a season-high seven. Cavallo Jr. allowed three hits with two strikeouts over the final 2.2 innings to earn the save.
Game 2: LSU Alexandria 4, Loyola 2
Loyola jumped up 2-0 in the first inning of Game 2, but the Generals used a four-run fourth inning to overcome the Wolf Pack's lead and tie the series.
Duhon opened the first inning with a walk, then stole second and third base to get into scoring position. After Dennis reached on a walk, Chandler Strader hit a sacrifice fly to right to plate the first run. Dennis later came home after stealing second base and scoring when the catcher's throw went into the outfield and under the centerfield's glove.
Trailing 2-0, LSUA got a double, a hit batter and a single to tie the game in the fourth, then a two-run homer during the next at-bat put the Generals up for good.
Wyatt Lankford struck out nine in his six innings of work, scattering six hits and allowing all four earned runs.
"I thought Game 1 was a good opportunity to deal with adversity. We've been talking about how we're going to handle being from behind because we haven't been behind all year. We did exactly what we talked about. We went pitch for pitch and waited for an opportunity and capitalized on it. Obviously, that was Ross' grand slam. I thought they did a good job of handling the adversity and dealing with it.
"In Game 2, their pitcher did a good job of sitting on the outer half and taking advantage of what he was getting on the outer half. He did a good job of adjusting to it, and that was pretty much the game. We just didn't adjust to the fastballs on the outer half. Wyatt battled and it was really just the one hit that really hurt him. After that, he was really good. We'll come back tomorrow and get after it."
Pack Facts
Ross Selvaggi's first career home run came in Game 1 of the doubleheader, as he smashed a grand slam in the third inning to put Loyola up 7-5.
Loyola's Game 1 win gave it a 6-0 record, matching the best start for the program since the 2012 season.
Loyola catcher Landon Trosclair threw out three runners trying to steal in Game 2, as LSUA went 0-for-3 in stolen base attempts.
Brandon Duhon had four stolen bases in Game 2, pushing his season total to 15. He hasn't been caught stealing yet this season, and he's three away from getting into Loyola's Top 10 for steals in a single season.
For the third straight game, Wyatt Lankford has a new career-high for strikeouts with his nine in Game 2 on Friday. Wes Anderson's seven strikeouts are also 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.
