Loyola stumbled out of the gates in the season-opening doubleheader, losing both games to LSU-Shreveport’s Pilots, ranked No. 11 nationally, 11-3 and 11-9 at Segnette Field on Jan. 27.
The day featured a bitter, blowing wind, sending grounders and fly balls all over. The team struggled defensively, committing eight errors between the two games.
The first game did not begin optimistically. Starting pitcher Thomas Gibbs, history junior, made it through a scoreless first inning despite putting two runners on with a single and a walk. The runs poured in from there.
Pilot Bryan Stebbings started the top of the second inning with a double. After Pilot Josh Todd moved Stebbings over to third with a bunt-single, Jacob Watkins walked to load the bases. All three would eventually score on a single, sacrifice fly and sacrifice bunt. The Pilots led 3-0.
Loyola wouldn’t score until the fifth inning, when general business studies freshman Taylor Domengeaux scored the first run of the season on a wild pitch. But by then, the damage was done. Loyola was down 8-1.
Gibbs (0-1) was charged with the loss, as Loyola would not come back, losing 11-3. He pitched three innings and gave up six earned runs, striking out one and walking two. Most of the damage was done on small hits, as in the second inning.
Gibbs pitched well, despite the numbers. 39 of his 60 pitches were strikes.
In relief, English junior Chucky Benach and math senior Paul Neill combined to do a fine job holding the Pilots from scoring more. Benach only gave up a run in three innings, and he struck out four batters. Neill also lasted three innings, giving up three runs, but he struck out four batters while only walking one.
Domengeaux had an exciting debut. He finished two for two with a walk, and he scored twice. He handled himself well in the field, making few mistakes and no errors.
In the second game of the double-header, the offense came late and hard.
Loyola, confounded by the Pilot arms for the first game and a half, was down 11-3 in the bottom of the seventh and staring at consecutive ugly losses. With one swing of the bat, Joshua Borges changed that.
Accounting senior Brian Mason loaded the bases with a walk after the team had scored two runs to start off the half-inning, making it 11-5 and within striking distance. After management senior Mike Kelly scored on a pass ball with Borges at the plate, Borges hit a screaming line drive over the center field fence, a 408-foot, three-run shot.
It was Loyola’s first home run of the season.
Loyola would not score for the rest of the game, however, and lost 11-8.
Physics junior closer Kevin Fontenot kept the Wolfpack in the game, pitching 3.1 scoreless innings. He had pinpoint precision, hitting 31 of his 45 pitches for strikes and only giving up two hits. He did not walk a batter.
General business studies junior Andrew Laiche started the game and pitched admirably, lasting four innings and striking out three batters. He kept his team in the game and went into the dugout with only a 3-2 deficit.
But after management junior pitcher Miles Colley put the game out of reach by allowing seven runs, Laiche (0-1) was tagged with the loss.
Mason showed his usual excellent plate discipline and reached base four times. He went two for three with two walks, scoring three times. One of those walks came after an eleven-pitch battle against Pilot starter Victor Hernandez. He finished four for seven on the day.
Loyola will face the University of Mobile Rams in a three-game road series in Mobile on Feb. 1.
Chad Bower can be contacted at [email protected].
