Box Score The Wolf Pack opened up Southern States Athletic Conference play with a bang Friday at Segnette Field
WESTWEGO – The Loyola Wolf Pack made quick work of the Stillman College Tigers Friday, opening up the Southern States Athletic Conference schedule with a 10-0, run-rule win over the Tigers at Segnette Field. The Wolf Pack and Tigers will resume their three-game series with a doubleheader Saturday starting at 1 p.m.
John Blanchard III got the start on the bump for the Wolf Pack, throwing four strikeouts in his six innings of three-hit ball. After pitching a 1-2-3 first inning, the Tigers got their first hit on Blanchard in the second but they couldn't do anything else to the freshman pitcher. Blanchard pitched clean innings in the fourth and sixth innings before handing the ball to Alexander Acevedo in the seventh. Acevedo allowed a one-out single but he struck out the side to prevent any damage.
Offensively, the Wolf Pack scored five runs in the first two innings to set the tone for the game. After Payton Alexander and Michael Calamari reached in the opening frame, Allen Dennis' double scored Alexander and Calamari later scored off the bat of Kason Cullins. A single by Gabriel Trastoy during the next at-bat made it 3-0. In the second inning, Brandon Duhon led off the frame with a triple to right-center, then Tucker Ganley got to first via a walk before Alexander scored the two runs with a double down the right-field line.
Two innings later, Calamari picked up an RBI with a sacrifice fly to score Duhon. That gave Loyola a 6-0 lead after four innings. In the sixth with Calamari and Dennis on base and one out, Peyton Lacoste sent an RBI single to right field to make it 7-0, then a sacrifice fly by Cullins scored Dennis to push the lead to 8-0.
The Wolf Pack ended the game with two more runs in the seventh inning, as they began the frame with two walks and a hit batter to put the game-ending run at second base. A passed ball plated Patrick Crifasi, then Calamari brought the run-rule in play with a single through the infield to score Ross Scelfo.
On Friday's win:
"We threw strikes, we didn't walk anybody and we made the plays. Payton Alexander had a really nice day at shortstop making a bunch of plays. I thought we had some quality at-bats. The arm they threw was solid and we competed. We hit a bunch of balls hard and flat and we didn't get sloppy. It was exactly what we needed to do."
On using a consistent lineup:
"We've kind of settled in. I feel like we were looking for a combination of offense and defense, which our defense was poor. Obviously, offense factors in as well, but we're comfortable with what we're doing now. It doesn't mean it can't change tomorrow, but the guys we have in there are doing a good job. I think it shows in some of the results we're getting."
Pack Facts
John Blanchard III is 3-0 as a starting pitcher in his freshman season. He gave up just three hits and no earned runs, both season-lows in his starts.
Alexander Acevedo has recorded at least two strikeouts in five straight relief appearances. He had three tonight, all in the seventh inning, bringing his season total to 12 strikeouts.
Allen Dennis registered his seventh multi-hit game of the season after hitting a double in the first inning and a single in the seventh. He's reached base in 15-straight games.
Dennis now has sole possession of second place on Loyola's all-time RBI list, now with 127 for his career. He trails only Doug Neill (1999-02), who has 131 career RBI.
Michael Calamari also logged his seventh multi-hit game of the season.
Tucker Ganley drew two walks, extending his on-base streak to 14 games.
Payton Alexander's on-base streak also continued, as he reached every time he stepped up to the plate Friday.
