Andy Rodriguez enjoyed a huge day as the Loyola baseball team split a GCAC doubleheader with Belhaven on Saturday afternoon at Segnette Field. Loyola improves to 14-21 on the season and is 5-13 in conference play.

“We needed that win in the worst way,” said the communications sophomore, who went five-for-seven with a home run and six RBIs. Loyola entered the doubleheader having gone 1-9 over the past ten games.

Loyola continued to struggle in the opening game. Belhaven pounded out 17 hits en route to a 14-9 victory over the ‘Pack. Communications junior Danny Gonzalez (1-3) took the loss in relief. He pitched 2.2 innings and gave up seven runs on six hits.

Rodriguez was a bright spot in the game for the ‘Pack, going four-for-four with four RBIs against arguably the top pitching team in the GCAC. He was just a triple short of the cycle.

“Their pitching staff is phenomenal,” Rodriguez said. “But we were able to adjust. We have a young team, and we’re still getting comfortable.”

Loyola found that comfort later in the day, defeating Belhaven 5-2 and snapping a four-game losing streak, thanks in large part to a huge sixth inning. Down 2-1 with two outs and the bases loaded, Belhaven’s Matt Lawrence sailed a pitch past the catcher, allowing two runs to score to give Loyola a 3-2 lead. Rodriguez then smashed a double that scored two more insurance runs and put Belhaven away.

James Blakeman (2-4) got the victory in relief for Loyola. The communications junior struck out four in two shutout innings. History junior Sal Greco started the game and lasted five innings. He gave up two runs on five hits and struck out four.

While Loyola had its share of pitching troubles, the offense certainly delivered on the day. Three players had multi-hit games, an impressive achievement considering each game lasted only seven innings.

Loyola begins a six game road stretch tonight as they face LSU-Shreveport in Shreveport. First pitch is scheduled for 6:30 PM.

“We need to stay focused,” said physics freshman Kevin Fontenot, who went four-for-seven on the day. “(LSU) Shreveport has always been tough for us. We just need to be more focused.”

Chad Bower can be reached at [email protected].