WESTWEGO – The 11th-ranked Loyola Wolf Pack returned to Segnette Field on Thursday to begin a three-game series with Blue Mountain Christian, dropping the opener, 8-5. The two teams will meet back up to play a doubleheader on Friday, with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m.
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The Wolf Pack was held scoreless through the first three innings, but they scored five runs in the fourth and fifth innings to go ahead 5-4. The Toppers took a 2-0 lead with runs in the second and fourth innings, then Loyola scored four in the bottom of the fourth to take its first lead, 4-2. BMCU answered with a pair of runs in the fifth, however, Loyola answered again with a run in the bottom half.Â
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Garrett Felix and Marcus Steen put runners on the corners with two outs, then Landon Manson picked up an RBI single to put Loyola on the board, 2-1. Jaxon Buratt gave the Pack the 3-2 lead by doubling down the left-field line, and he scored later in the frame on a double steal play with Landon Trosclair on first. In the fifth, Ben Harris led off the inning with a single, eventually scoring on a wild pitch to regain the lead, 5-4.Â
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After neither team scored in the sixth, the Toppers plated four runs in the seventh to take the lead for good. It started with a leadoff home run, then after they loaded the bases, a wild pitch gave the visitors the 6-5 advantage. With two runners on base, Loyola appeared to get out of the inning without any more damage, but an error in left allowed two more runs to score, 8-5.Â
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Loyola's three defensive errors proved to be the difference because four of Blue Mountain's runs were unearned.Â
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