Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Loyola Wolf Pack had to wait an extra day to finish their four-game series with Texas A&M-Texarkana, dropping both games Sunday to finish the weekend 2-2
TEXARKANA, Tex. – The Loyola University New Orleans baseball team wrapped up its first road series of the season Sunday, coming back to New Orleans with a 5-3 overall record after losing two games Sunday to the Eagles. After Loyola won both games Friday, TA&M-T beat Loyola 8-7 in 11 innings to start the day Sunday, then lost the series finale 8-4.
Loyola is scheduled to play at No. 6 LSU Shreveport four times next weekend starting Saturday at noon.
GAME 1: TA&M-T 8, Loyola 7 (11)
Loyola started the game well, scoring five runs in the first two innings to hold an early 5-1 lead. Michael Calamari and Kason Cullins each picked up an RBI in the first, scoring Payton Alexander, who reached on an error, and Calamari, respectively. Allen Dennis' fielder's choice scored the third run of the game in the second inning, then Calamari made it 5-1 with a two-run blast during the next at-bat.
Loyola made it 6-1 after an RBI single by Alexander in the top of the third, but the Eagles pushed five runs across in the bottom half of the frame to tie the game. Texas A&M-T took its first lead with a run in the fifth.
Trailing 7-6 in the seventh and final inning, Aaron Davis stepped for his first at-bat of the season and put the ball in play with Calamari on second and two outs. An error by the Eagles' defense allowed the tying run to score, sending the game to extra innings.
Brenden Taravella entered to pitch in the fifth inning, and he held Texas A&M-T's offense down over the next 5.1 innings to give his offense a chance to score the go-ahead run. He stuck out three and allowed four hits during his outing, but the Eagles finally broke the tie in the 11th inning.
GAME 2: TA&M-T 8, Loyola 4 (7)
The Eagles jumped out ahead early, taking a 6-0 lead after two innings. Loyola got on the board in the third and fourth innings, though, cutting the score to 6-3. Brandon Duhon scored the Wolf Pack's first run on a wild pitch after reaching base on a walk, then Gabriel Trastoy and Alexander picked up back-to-back RBI in the fourth.
Texas A&M-Texarkana, however, answered with a run in the bottom half of the fourth to push back ahead 7-3. Dennis picked up an RBI in the sixth inning, but again, the Eagles answered in the bottom half of the frame to hold off the Wolf Pack.
Pack Facts
Payton Alexander stole five bases in the two games Sunday, giving him 46 for his career. He's now fifth all-time in Loyola history.
Alexander also reached base in both games, pushing his on-base streak to 34 games.
Patrick Crifasi was 0-for-1 from the plate in Game 1 Sunday, but he was hit by a pitch to extend his on-base streak to 19 games.
Allen Dennis had an RBI in each game Sunday, and he's now tied for 6th in Loyola history with 114 career RBI.
Michael Calamari is currently on a six-game hitting streak after going 5-for-8 Sunday. In the last six games, he's 10-for-21 with a couple of doubles, a home run and five RBI.
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.
