Offense hasn’t been an issue for the ‘Pack this season and certainly wasn’t for the series against Blackburn this past week. Loyola took 2 of 3 games and scored 35 runs. The team won its second consecutive series while improving to 12-11 overall.
Loyola’s offense started the series with 20 hits during a 17-10 opening win.
“I thought we did a good job and continued to put pressure on them offensively,” Loyola coach Doc Beeman said. “Our offense is leading the way.”
Management senior David Lauricella, who went 5-of-11 in the series with 6 RBIs, hit a homer in the first inning to make it 2-0. Blackburn tied it up in the third, but Loyola quickly responded with four runs of its own in the bottom half. Loyola would not relinquish the lead. Andrew Laiche (1-1), mathematics freshman, lasted five innings, giving up two earned runs on three hits. He struck out five and walked three.
Blackburn took the second game 10-9 on a squeeze bunt in the ninth inning. Loyola had a chance for a tie in the bottom half with runners on first and second and two outs, but management junior Brian Mason hit into a fielder’s choice to end the game. History freshman Thomas Gibbs (0-1) got the loss. He gave up one run on four hits while striking out one batter. Todd Hubbell, management sophomore, Bryan McCaulley, mathematics senior, and Mason combined for nine hits as Loyola outhit Blackburn 16-14 in the game.
The ‘Pack bounced back the next night, winning 9-6 thanks to general studies sophomore Paul Neill’s effort to tame Blackburn’s hot bats. He pitched 7.2 innings, giving up five earned runs on eight hits. Chucky Benach, biology freshman, effectively replaced Neill late in the eighth inning with two outs, a runner on first, and the score 7-6. He ended the inning with a routine ground ball to the pitcher.
Kevin Fontenot, physics freshman, and Bobby Alvarez, communications sophomore, each scored two runs in the bottom half of the inning, giving Benach the breathing room he needed to pitch a scoreless ninth and earn his first save of the season.
The team is second in the GCAC in the major offensive categories: average (.328), slugging percentage (.461) and home runs (16).
Chad Bower can be reached at [email protected].
