The Loyola baseball team was three outs away from clinching a victory on the road in its first season series. But Thomas University scored three runs in the bottom of the ninth to win the game 15-14.

The teams split a doubleheader on Saturday to set up the rubber game on Sunday.

Starter Brad Showalter, communications senior, left in the eighth inning with two runners on base and a 7-4 lead. The bullpen, however, could not keep the lead and surrendered eight earned runs in the final two innings. Management senior Scott Schenck (1-1) allowed the final two runs of the ninth and took the loss.

In the top of the ninth, Loyola put itself in position to win the series with a two-out rally that produced seven runs. Greg Veltri, pre-engineering sophomore, had a bases-loaded triple to give the ‘Pack a 14-12 advantage.

On Saturday, the Wolfpack won the first game of the doubleheader, 11-6. Schenck went six innings and allowed four runs, three earned, while striking out four to give the ‘Pack a win in its first game of the 2003 season. Schenck was also two-for-four with two RBIs at the plate. Veltri was two-for-five with two runs scored and three RBIs.

In the second game, Loyola fell 3-2 in seven innings. Biology sophomore Tony Western (0-1) took the loss, giving up nine hits and three runs over five innings. Veltri was one-for-two with Loyola’s sole RBI of the game.