Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Loyola Wolf Pack and LSU Alexandria concluded their three-game weekend series with a doubleheader Saturday, as the Generals won both games at Segnette Field
WESTWEGO, La. – After winning in thrilling fashion Friday, the Loyola Wolf Pack dropped two games to LSU Alexandria Saturday. The Generals started the day with an 8-3 win over the Pack, then LSUA scored twice in the top of the ninth to escape with a 10-9 win to win the series.
Loyola is now 8-7 overall this season and it'll host Xavier next weekend for a three-game series at Segnette Field.
Game 1: LSU Alexandria 8, Loyola 3 (7)
LSU Alexandria used a big third inning to gain the advantage, scoring four runs in the frame to take an early 5-0 over the Pack. Kason Cullins finally got the Wolf Pack on the board in the bottom of the third inning when he stepped up to the plate with the bases loaded and one out. The freshman sent a pitch to the left-center field wall to bring home all three runs and cut LSUA's lead to 5-3.
Loyola was scoreless the rest of the game and ended up leaving nine base runners on base throughout the contest. The Wolf Pack stranded one runner in the first inning and two in the second before scoring the three runs in the third. They had an opportunity in the sixth inning, putting two on base with one out, but a pop-up bunt to the catcher turned into a double play to kill the momentum.
The Generals added three runs in the top of the seventh, then the Wolf Pack left the bases loaded in the bottom half of the frame to end the game.
After freshman Stephen Still got the start and was chased in the third, Matthew Champagne entered and pitched well over the next four innings. He put zeros on the board in the fourth, fifth and sixth to give his offense a chance, but the LSUA offense got to him in the seventh inning. He finished with six strikeouts while giving up two earned runs off four hits in his outing.
Game 2: LSU Alexandria 10, Loyola 9
There were plenty of momentum swings in the second game, as each had its fair share of success at the plate. After LSU Alexandria jumped up 4-0 in the first inning, Ross Scelfo put Loyola on the board with a single to score Payton Alexander. The Generals added another run in the third inning to make it 5-1, but the Wolf Pack answered with three runs in the bottom half, thanks to a three-run home run by Michael Calamari, to cut the deficit to 5-4.
Again, LSU Alexandria pushed ahead, scoring two runs in the fourth inning to bring the score to 7-4, and again, the Wolf Pack answered. Landon Trosclair led off the bottom of the frame with a solo home run, then Brandon Duhon scored after a bases-loaded walk. Tucker Ganley tied the game 7-7 during the next at-bat, scoring via a passed ball.
Loyola took its first lead in the sixth inning, 9-7, when Allen Dennis doubled to right-center, plating Ganley and Alexander, but the Generals scored one run in the eighth and two in the ninth to walk away with the win.
On Saturday's performance:
"I thought we competed. It wasn't for a lack of effort, but we didn't execute great. Brenden (Taravella) did a good job (in Game 2) of settling in and giving us a chance and Allen Dennis had a really big hit with the bases loaded, but we just didn't have enough today."
On the top of the batting order producing:
"The top half of the order is doing a phenomenal job. They're having quality at-bats, professional at-bats, and they're hitting the ball hard and flat. We just have to get some more guys doing it."
Pack Facts
Matthew Champagne struck out a career-high six batters in four innings of work Saturday.
Landon Trosclair threw out four would-be base stealers in the two games Saturday, as well as picking off a runner at first base. Trosclair hadn't thrown out a runner yet this season, and he recorded nine in 20 games last season.
Michael Calamari and Trosclair each hit their second home run of the season in Game 2.
The first four players in the batting order, Tucker Ganley, Payton Alexander, Calamari and Allen Dennis all recorded two hits each in Game 2, accounting for eight of the Wolf Pack's 11 hits.
Dennis has now recorded a hit in seven straight games, going 8-for-23 with eight RBI during that stretch.
Alexander notched his second-career two-double game in the second game Saturday, also accomplishing that feat as a freshman.
Alexander scored three times in the second game, too, and that's five straight games he's crossed the plate. He leads the team with 26 runs this season.
In his short Loyola career, freshman Tucker Ganley tallied his second career three-run game. He also scored three times Friday.
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.
