Box Score 1 |
Box Score 2 The Loyola Wolf Pack evened the series with a close win to start Saturday's doubleheader, but the Rams won the rubber match to take the series
WESTWEGO – It was an up-and-down day for the Loyola Wolf Pack baseball team, starting Saturday's doubleheader with a 6-5 win before dropping the series-deciding Game 3, 14-1. The 1-1 day moves the Pack's record to 18-16 overall and 5-6 in Southern States Athletic Conference play, and the team is next set to travel to Maimi Gardens, Florida, for a three-game series against No. 10 St. Thomas next weekend.
Game 1: Loyola 6, Mobile 5
The Wolf Pack struck first in the second inning, using a leadoff solo home run by Luke Clement to take a 1-0 lead. The Wolf Pack left the bases loaded in the inning, though, and Mobile was able to answer with four runs in the next half inning to take a 4-1 lead.
The Wolf Pack loaded the bases again in the bottom of the fourth, and this time they took advantage. With Jake Mills at the plate, the Mobile pitcher committed a balk to score the first run, then a double down the left-field line pushed two more runs across to tie the game. After pinch-runner Dylan Renard advanced to third base on a bad pick-off attempt by the pitcher, he then gave Loyola the 5-4 lead when Tucker Ganley singled to left field.
Loyola added an insurance run, 6-4, in the bottom of the sixth as well. Jake Mills led off the inning with a walk, and pinch-runner Jake Cabeceiras later scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Payton Alexander. Loyola needed that run, too, because Mobile scored one in the top of the seventh and had the bases loaded before the final out was recorded.
Stephen Still started and worked the first four innings, only finding himself in trouble in the third inning. The sophomore worked around two base runners in the first inning, then faced the minimum in the second and fourth innings to give the Loyola bats a chance. After the offense took the lead, Brenden Taravella came in and pitched the final three innings to earn his 10th career save. Still tallied four strikeouts during his outing and Taravella recorded three of his own, pitching out of a bases-loaded jam in the bottom of the seventh.
Game 2: Mobile 14, Loyola 1 (7)
The Rams claimed the series with a lopsided victory in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. Not much went in Loyola's favor, as Mobile scored five runs in the second inning and seven more in the fourth to jump up 14-1. The Rams also scored lone runs in the first and third innings, and they weren't held scoreless in a frame until the fifth inning when Matthew Bratton was pitching.
Bratton stopped the Rams' offense by allowing just one hit in two innings of work. The senior also struck out two and faced just one batter over the minimum. Brady Bowen pitched a clean inning in the seventh, too, striking out two of the three batters he faced.
Pack Facts
Brenden Taravella pitched the final three innings to earn his 10th career save. He needs just two more saves to be tied for first in career saves in Loyola history.
Seven different players recorded a hit in Saturday's Game 1: Tucker Ganley, Allen Dennis, Luke Clement, Garrett Beadle, Christopher Bohrer, Gabriel Trastoy, and Jake Mills.
Payton Alexander collected his 64th career stolen base in the second game of Saturday's doubleheader. He needs to swipe five more bags to put him into a tie for second on Loyola's all-time stolen bases leaderboard.
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.
