Wolf Pack begins season 3-0

WESTWEGO – The Loyola Wolf Pack baseball team improved their early season record to 3-0 on Tuesday, defeating Xavier, 6-2, at Segnette Field. Next up for Loyola is the Cajun Collision in Sterlington, Louisiana, this weekend, as it'll take on one ranked team and two teams receiving votes throughout the weekend. In total, the Wolf Pack will play four games in three days Friday through Sunday. 
 

After Xavier struck first in the top of the second, Loyola quickly equalized it with a run in the bottom half. Anthony Fernandez led off the inning with a single to left-center, then stole second to quickly get into scoring position. After Kason Cullins walked to put two on with no outs, Landon Manson singled home Fernandez to tie the game, 1-1. Brandon Mooney got things going in the next inning with a leadoff single, and after Marcus Steen walked, the two base runners stole a base to put two in scoring position with one out. With two outs and the bases loaded, the XULA pitcher was called for a balk to make it a 2-1 Wolf Pack lead. 
 

The Pack added to their lead in the sixth and seventh. Jaxon Buratt, Mooney and Prescott Marsh all walked to load the bases, then Collin Zeringue and Fernandez both walked as well to push Loyola's lead to 4-1. Landon Trosclair singled with one out in the seventh, stealing second to quickly get into scoring position. Jake Mills followed that up with a single to plate Trosclair and make it a 5-1 lead. 
 

XULA got one run back in the eighth to make it a 5-2 ballgame, but Loyola got that run back in the next half-inning. Fernandez, again, got it going in the eighth, singling to left field with two outs. Cullins and Manson loaded the bases with a walk and a single, respectively, then pinch-hitter Jed Cambre walked in Loyola's sixth run of the game. \
 

Frank Fernandez earned his first collegiate win in relief after pitching the third and fourth innings. The freshman struck out three of the seven batters he faced, and he didn't give up a hit while his only base runner reached on an error. Hunter Ponson didn't give up a hit either, as he pitched the fifth with one strikeout. Payton Cooper went the longest of the five pitchers, striking out three while allowing just one hit in three innings of work. Nathan Monceaux worked an efficient ninth inning to close things out, as he struck out one to give the Loyola pitching staff 11 on the day. Thomas Hakimian got the start and struck out three in two innings of work as well. 
 

Pack Facts

• Loyola produced at least 10 hits for the second time in three games. 

• Anthony Fernandez reached base in every one of his plate appearances, finishing the game with two hits, two runs, three walks, an RBI, and a stolen base. 

• Nine different Wolf Pack players recorded a hit, including Fernandez's multi-hit game. 

• Fernandez and Marcus Steen have gotten at least one hit in all three games this season. 

• Thomas Hakimian, Frank Fernandez, and Payton Cooper each threw three strikeouts on the night. 

• Wolf Pack pitchers allowed just two hits total for the second game in a row. Loyola only had one game allowing two or fewer hits in 2023. 

• This is Loyola's first time starting the season 3-0 since the 2020 season. 

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