No. 18 Loyola wins series over Mobile

WESTWEGO – The Loyola University New Orleans baseball team claimed another Southern States Athletic Conference series on Saturday, as it split a doubleheader with the Mobile Rams. No. 18 Loyola won the first game, 7-2, before losing the series finale, 6-4. 
 

The Wolf Pack (22-10, 7-5 in SSAC) will take on crosstown rival Xavier for the second time this season at Skelly Rupp Stadium on Tuesday. First pitch of the non-conference contest is scheduled for 6 p.m.
 

Game 1: #18 Loyola 7, Mobile 2

Mobile scratched the first run across in the top of the second, but the Wolf Pack answered with a four-run bottom half. JJ Garcia, Drew Lee, and Jovan Swasey all reached base on consecutive at-bats with one out, then Jed Cambre ripped a two-out single through the left side to plate two runs, 2-1. Jaxon Buratt followed that up with a double to left-center to score two more, 4-1. 
 

The Pack added two more runs in the fourth inning. After Buratt had a two-out walk, McDonald sent a pitch 380 feet over the left-field wall to make Loyola's lead 6-1. The Rams scored one in the sixth, but again, Loyola answered in the bottom half with a run, 7-2. Buratt came up big again with an RBI single to score pinch-runner Ben Harris. Harris was running for John Lewis, who singled earlier in the inning. 
 

James Guidry got the start for the Wolf Pack and pitched a gem. He worked the first six innings with four strikeouts while giving up two runs on four hits to receive the win. After giving up those two runs, he had 1-2-3 innings in the fourth and fifth innings to keep the momentum in Loyola's dugout. Grant Goodbee pitched the seventh to close things out. 
 

Game 2: Mobile 6, #18 Loyola 4

The Rams opened the series finale with a four-run first inning, however, the Wolf Pack had the game tied by the end of the second. Cambre manufactured the first run after reaching on a hit by pitch. He moved to third on a failed pick-off attempt by the Mobile pitcher and scored on a balk, 4-1. McDonald reached base with one out via a walk, and after stealing second, he scored when Lee singled to center, 4-2. In the second, Garcia led off with a single, then the freshman scored on a Cambre single to left, 4-3. Cambre later scored on a wild pitch after moving to third on a single from Buratt. 
 

Thomas Hakimian came in to pitch in the first inning and put out the fire. After that, he only allowed two more hits over the course of his 4.2 innings. He struck out one and walked one to keep the Rams off the board through five innings. 
 

The difference in the game came in the seventh inning when the Rams got a two-run homer to take a 6-4 advantage. Loyola did threaten in the ninth, getting the tying run on base, but the Wolf Pack couldn't get the timely hit.
 

Pack Facts

• Nathan McDonald hit his sixth home run of the season in Game 1 Saturday with his ninth double of the season in Game 2. He leads the Pack in both categories, in addition to 36 total hits. 

• Jaxon Buratt extended his hit streak to nine games, totaling two hits with three RBI in game 1 Saturday.

• James Guidry picked up his second win of the season after a stellar six innings in Game 1.