Loyola takes midweek loss to LCU

PINEVILLE, La. – The Loyola University New Orleans baseball team took a road trip to Louisiana Christian University for a midweek non-conference matchup on Tuesday, losing the contest, 12-9. The Wolf Pack (16-6) will continue to play away from Segnette Field this weekend, traveling to Georgia Gwinnett for two games against No. 2 GGC and one against former Southern States Athletic Conference rival Talladega College. 
 

Loyola scored the game's first three runs, bringing home two in the first and the third run in the third. Back-to-back walks for Jaxon Buratt and Marcus Steen started the game, and an error by the LCU catcher eventually scored Buratt to make it a 1-0 lead for the Wolf Pack. Collin Zeringue picked up an RBI to give Loyola a 2-0 lead, scoring Brandon Mooney who reached on a fielder's choice two at-bats prior. The Wildcats, however, used a five-run fourth inning to jump ahead 5-3. 
 

The Wolf Pack answered in the next half-inning with two runs to tie the game, 5-5. Jed Cambre led off with a walk, and a double by Zeringue put two in scoring position with no outs. Payton Cooper reached on an error to bring home the first run, 5-4, and a groundout by Landon Manson scored the tying run. Again, though, LCU used another big inning to take the lead, scoring three runs in the bottom of the fifth to take an 8-5 lead. 
 

LCU added two more in the sixth, 10-5, before Loyola got on the board again in the seventh. Zeringue led off that frame with a double, and he later came around to score on a Manson sacrifice fly, 10-6. However, two more runs for the Wildcats in the eighth pushed their advantage even more, 12-6. 
 

The Wolf Pack tried to rally in the ninth. Cooper started the inning with a single, Landon Trosclair walked, then the two moved into scoring position on a wild pitch. Aaron Davis collected two RBI on a double to left-center, 12-8, and he was brought home after consecutive groundouts. That was all the Pack could get, though. 
 

Frank Fernandez got his first career collegiate start and pitched three strong innings. The freshman struck out four and allowed just two hits on 33 pitches. 
 

Pack Facts

• Collin Zeringue hit a pair of doubles, going 4-for-5 overall with two hits, two RBI, and a stolen base. 

• Zeringue, who is now over .300 for his batting average this season at .307, leads the Pack in doubles with seven. 

• In his first start of the year, Frank Fernandez had a season-high four strikeouts in three scoreless innings. It was his fifth game this year throwing at least two innings while allowing no runs.