Loyola wins season opener

WESTWEGO – The Loyola Wolf Pack baseball team turned early runs into a win on Friday, defeating LSU Alexandria, 4-2, in Loyola's season opener. The Pack and the Generals (2-3) will play two more games on Saturday starting at 1 p.m. to conclude the three-game series. 
 

Jordan McKenzie got off to a hot start in his Loyola debut, putting the Wolf Pack up 2-0 with a two-run homer to left field in the second inning. Collin Zeringue was hit by a pitch before McKenzie's long ball to set up the two-run blast. Jed Cambre kept the inning going with a walk, then after he stole second, Cole Romero brought him home with a single through the left side, 3-0. 
 

Loyola got on the board again in the third inning, as Brandon Mooney got things going with a leadoff double to right-center. After Garrett Felix put two runners on base with a hit-by-pitch, Zeringue grounded into a fielder's choice and Mooney used heads-up base running to score all the way from second, 4-0. 
 

Jake Cohen earned the win after seeing limited action due to a pinch count. He threw four strong shutout innings with six strikeouts while giving up two hits. Matthew Weil pitched well in relief over the next three innings, giving up one earned run on three hits with five strikeouts. He started his outing by striking out the first three batters he saw in the fifth, and even put down the first five batters he saw before giving up his first hit in the sixth. Cole Bordes got the two-inning save, allowing an unearned run with a couple of strikeouts.  
 

Pack Facts

• Loyola has won its opening game in five of the six seasons in the Jeremy Kennedy era.

• Brandon Mooney went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, a walk, and a run scored. 

• The Wolf Pack pitching staff combined for 12 strikeouts in Friday's win, with starter Jake Cohen accounting for half of those. 

• Loyola has won the first game in the series against LSU Alexandria in each of the last eight seasons.