Loyola wins series-opener at Blue Mountain

BLUE MOUNTAIN, Miss. – The Loyola University New Orleans baseball team started its series with Blue Mountain Christian on the right note Friday, earning the 8-4 road win. The Wolf Pack (13-2, 5-2 in SSAC) and BMCU (11-4, 1-3) are set to play two tomorrow to finish the series, with the doubleheader slated for 11 a.m.
 

The Pack came out the gates hot with four runs in the first inning. Walks for Brandon Mooney and Marcus Steen, as well as a bunt single by Jaxon Buratt loaded the bases with no outs, then Anthony Fernandez and Collin Zeringue picked up back-to-back RBI on a single and walk, respectively. After a quick pitching change for the Toppers, Prescott Marsh and Landon Manson notched consecutive sacrifice flies to make it a 4-0 lead. 
 

Loyola tacked on two more in the third inning to extend its advance to 6-0. Fernandez reached on a fielder's choice and a walk for Zeringue put pinch runner Jed Cambre in scoring position with one out. With the bases loaded for Manson two batters later, he singled to score the first run, then a ground out for pinch hitter Garrett Beadle brought home the second run. 
 

Loyola starter Brady Bowen held BMCU off the board in the first two frames, but the hosts were able to get four runs across in the bottom of the third. Bowen gave up eight hits during his six innings of work, and four of those hits came in that third inning. Those were the only four runs he'd allow, though, and he finished his outing with five strikeouts without walking a batter. 
 

The Wolf Pack added insurance runs in the fifth and eighth innings to bring the score to 8-4. Manson had another RBI in the fifth, scoring Zeringue, and Mooney picked one up in the eighth to plate Jake Mills. 
 

Payton Cooper earned the save after pitching the final three innings with four strikeouts. He allowed just three hits while also walking none, throwing just 42 pitches. 
 

Pack Facts

• Loyola has now won the last six games against Blue Mountain in a streak that dates back to the 2022 conference tournament. 

• Collin Zeringue reached base in all five of his plate appearances against the Toppers. Zeringue went 3-for-3 at the plate with two runs, two walks, a double and an RBI. 

• Landon Manson drove in a team-high three runs on Friday with a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly. 

• Wolf Pack starter Brady Bowen earned his third win of the season after tossing six innings with five strikeouts.

• Payton Cooper picked up his second save of the season after keeping the Toppers scoreless over the game's final three innings. 

• Jaxon Buratt kept his team-best hitting streak going with a single on Friday. Buratt has a hit in nine straight games and leads the team with 17 hits this season. 

• Marcus Steen also has a decent hitting streak going. With two singles in Friday's game, Steen now has a hit in seven straight games. 

• Brandon Mooney, who now has a hit in six straight games, recorded a hit, run, RBI, and three walks on Friday.