Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Loyola Wolf Pack scored a combined 38 runs in two seven-inning games against the Eagles Friday
TEXARKANA, Tex. – The Loyola Wolf Pack brought their bats to Texarkana Friday, defeating Texas A&M Texarkana 18-0 and 20-2 in two seven-inning games. The Wolf Pack and Eagles are set to play two more games Saturday, starting at noon.
With Friday wins, Loyola is now 5-1 in the early portion of the season.
GAME 1: Loyola 18, TA&M-T 0
After starting the game with two scoreless innings, the Wolf Pack busted the game wide open in the third inning. Michael Calamari and Peyton Lacoste opened things off with back-to-back singles, then they both scored when Landon Trosclair's bunt resulted in an error by the Eagles defense. Kason Cullins doubled to score another run, and he scored two batters later after Brandon Duhon hit a sacrifice fly. Payton Alexander tripled to plate Luke LaCoste, and Alexander made it 6-0 after scoring on a wild pitch. Allen Dennis capped off the inning with a solo homer during the next at-bat.
As if scoring seven runs in one inning weren't impressive enough, the Wolf Pack pushed eight runs across in the fifth. Christopher Bohrer led off the frame with a home run, then Alexander picked up two more RBI with a single to score Luke LaCoste and Duhon. Dennis extended the score to 12-0 after hitting a two-run home run, then another Cullins double brought the score to 13-0. A wild pitch and another error by Texarkana made it 15-0.
Alexander and Dennis came through again, this time in the seventh inning. The Wolf Pack scored three more runs in the frame, and two of those runs came off the bat of those two. Zach Cook brought home the final run of the game with a sacrifice fly.
Wyatt Lankford and Andrew Riedell combined to throw a six-hit shutout, each recording a strikeout. Lankford got the start and threw the first four innings while allowing four hits, then Riedell finished the last three innings by only giving up two hits.
GAME 2: Loyola 20, TA&M-T 2
Loyola continued to mash the ball in Game 2 of Friday's doubleheader, scoring at least one run in each of the first six innings, including five runs each in the third and fourth.
With the game tied 1-1 in the second, Loyola took the lead for good with two runs in the frame. Duhon singled with one out and stole second, then scored after Alexander singled during the next at-bat. Alexander later scored when Calamari doubled, giving the Wolf Pack an early 3-1 lead.
Duhon's double scored the first run of the third inning, then Alexander tallied another RBI to make it 5-1. With two men on base, Dennis smacked his third home run of the day to extend the lead to 8-1.
Gabriel Trastoy picked up the first RBI of the fourth inning, scoring Bohrer, who started the inning with a walk. Dennis and Calamari walked with the bases loaded to score two more runs, and Peyton Lacoste was hit by a pitch to plate another. Bohrer came back up to bat in the inning, and he walked to bring another one home, making it a 13-1 game.
An error gave Loyola a 14-1 lead in the fifth inning, and a six-run sixth brought the score to 20-1.
Brett Fisackerly earned his first career start and earned the win. Rhyse Dee closed the game out, as both pitchers allowed just one run with three strikeouts.
Loyola and the Eagles will play two more games Saturday starting at noon.
"We got two quality starts. Both guys, Wyatt (Lankford) and Brett (Fisackerly), filled the strike zone. I was very impressed with the professionalism of our at-bats today. We consistently put the barreled on the ball, we stayed disciplined with our approaches, and it was fun to watch. Overall, it was a good day."
Pack Facts
Christopher Bohrer got his first career start in Game 1 Friday, and his first career hit was a homer in the fifth inning.
Allen Dennis hit three home runs in the two games, and that gives Loyola's career home run leader 25 for his career.
Dennis had eight RBI in both games, moving his career total to 112. He's now seventh in the Loyola record books.
Payton Alexander scored a career-high six runs in Game 2 Friday, and he's scored at least two runs in five of the first six games this season. He also had a career-high six RBI in Game 2, and that's three games in a row with at least four RBI. He now has a 32-game on-base streak dating back to last season.
Patrick Crifasi didn't see a plate appearance in Game 1, but he pushed his on-base streak to 18 in games he's had an at-bat. He went 1-for-4 with a walk and three runs scored.
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.
