Box Score The Texas Wesleyan Rams claimed the three-game series over the 12th-ranked Wolf Pack on Sunday
WESTWEGO – The No. 12 Loyola Wolf Pack dropped their series finale against Texas Wesleyan, 5-1, on Sunday, as the Rams claimed the three-game set after winning one of the two games on Saturday, dropping Loyola to 8-6 overall. The Pack will now turn their attention to Bryant & Stratton College for their first mid-week action of the season, hosting the Bobcats at 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
The Rams used two early runs to gain the monument in the contest, while their starting pitcher went the distance with seven strikeouts. A leadoff walk led to the game's first run in the top of the first inning, as the TWU runner was moved to second on a routine groundout. The base runner then attempted to steal third, but a throwing error on the Wolf Pack catcher allowed the run to come home. Mirroring the first inning, a leadoff walk in the third got things going for Texas Wesleyan, as the runner came around to score three at-bats later on a groundout to shortstop, giving the Rams a 2-0 lead.
Allen Dennis cut the TWU lead in half with one swing of the bat in the bottom of the fourth, sending a no-doubter past the scoreboard in left field. Neither team scored until the top of the seventh when the Rams put two more runs on the board, then an eighth-inning insurance run brought the game to its final, 5-1.
The Wolf Pack offense had multiple chances to add more runs throughout the game, squandering four different innings with runners in scoring position. Loyola finished the game 0-for-6 with runners on second or third as well.
Wolf Pack Head Coach Jeremy Kennedy
"There's not a lot of positives to take away from the weekend. We didn't really do much of anything good. There were a variety of mistakes in a variety of areas. On the mound, defensively, offensively, base running. It was just about a poorly played weekend as a whole that I've seen since I've been here. It's disappointing, but we have to go back to work to see if we can get it fixed. We didn't execute on a variety of things that are simple things that we work on, on a consistent basis. Just playing baseball. Catching the ball, throwing the ball, hitting the ball. It's a simple game that we're making very difficult right now. You name it, we pretty much made that mistake over the weekend.
"It's not a magic pill, we just have to go back to work and see if we can get it fixed. We walked too many guys this game, obviously, and you're just not going to win like that, especially against a good team. They did a good job. They threw strikes, shut us out (Saturday), then a nine-inning complete game (Sunday). That guy will probably be the National Pitcher of the Week after that performance. You have to credit them for doing a good job. They're well-coached. You couple playing against a good team that's well-coached with us not showing up, you're going to get the result we got."
Pack Facts
Allen Dennis led the team with two hits, his fourth multi-hit game of the season. He's now sixth in Loyola's record book in total hits with 193 for his career.
Loyola's all-time home runs leader, Dennis hit his 35th career homer on Sunday.
Dennis also extended his on-base streak to 14 games, reaching at least first base in every game this season.
Payton Alexander collected his 58th-career stolen base on Sunday, passing Brandon Duhon for fourth in the Loyola record book for career steals.
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