Rebounding from a recent six-game slide, the Loyola baseball team took out its frustrations on Spring Hill over the weekend by sweeping the Badgers in three games. Loyola scored early and often in all three contests, as the ‘Pack got on the scoreboard in the first inning of each game.
Loyola had won four straight games before a Monday night loss to Trinity.
“Our starters have been good,” coach Doc Beeman said. “Once we figure out how to combine all three aspects of the game: pitching, fielding and hitting, we will be tough to beat.”
At Segnette Field on Friday night, the ‘Pack won the first game of the Spring Hill series convincingly, 14-1.
Loyola scored in each of the first five innings. With two outs in the second inning, already leading by one, Loyola opened up a 4-0 lead as physics senior Greg Veltri’s RBI single and communications sophomore Andy Rodriguez’s RBI double brought home three runners.
Rodriguez would once again come through in the next inning, singling with the bases loaded to bring home two runners. The score moved to 8-0, and Spring Hill never recovered.
The 14 runs were far more than starter and criminal justice senior Jeff Pippenger (2-1) needed. Pippenger had a complete game, giving up one run on five hits.
Veltri went 4-for-4 with three runs scored and two RBIs. Not to be outdone, Rodriguez went 3-for-5 with four RBIs. Management junior David Lauricella also added two RBIs.
The next day the Wolfpack stayed hot, sweeping Spring Hill in a doubleheader. The first game saw Loyola come out on top 6-5. Five of Loyola’s six runs came in the first inning, highlighted by Rodriguez’s two-run home run.
Spring Hill’s bats were not as quiet as they were the previous night, though, as the team answered with four runs in the second. But sophomore Brian Mason doubled in finance sophomore Marc Jaynes in the bottom of the third to score what would be the game’s deciding run.
Loyola reliever and general studies freshman Paul Neill (2-0) got another notch in the win column.
He went five innings, giving up one run on four hits. He struck out four.
Mason led the offense, going 3-for-3 with a run scored and a RBI.
The day’s second game saw Loyola score eight in the first inning en route to a 9-5 win.
Communications senior Kevin Kalina went 4-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Veltri homered in the first inning. Lauricella was 2-for-4 with a run scored.
Mathematics senior Brian McCaulley (4-1) proved reliable again and took the win.
He gave up three unearned runs on six hits and struck out four Badger batters.
On Monday night, however, Trinity slowed the ‘Pack’s growing momentum.
Trinity starter Chuck Huggins gave up two runs on two hits as the ‘Pack fell 8-3.
Loyola reliever and management senior Jeb Bauer (0-3) was tagged with the loss. He gave up four runs on three hits after entering the game in the fourth inning. Veltri led the offense, going 2-for-4 with a run scored.
While Loyola seems to be back on the right track, Beeman would like to see more consistency from his club.
“I don’t know why we have been streaky,” he said. “That is not really the mark of a good team. A good team will end a losing streak before it gets too long. I would rather be known as a consistent team, but as I have said all year, we are in the middle of a learning process that hopefully culminates at the end of the year.”
Loyola’s Tuesday game against Trinity was rained out and will not be made up.
Wednesday’s game against Nicholls State was postponed due to inclement weather. No make-up date has been announced.
The team’s next game is Saturday at Privateer Park against LSU-Shreveport. First pitch is slated for 1 p.m.
Ryan Arena can be reached at [email protected].
