The Loyola baseball team started Gulf Coast Athletic Conference play by splitting the six games in its first two series.
Loyola’s last two mid-week games (Alcorn State and Stillman) were postponed due to rain.
The ‘Pack took two of three from Mobile at Segnette Field after sweeping a doubleheader 3-1 and 3-1 on Feb. 21.
Marketing junior Justin Harris allowed one run in six innings while striking out six batters. Political science freshman James Blakeman got his first save by allowing only a walk in one inning.
Biology junior David Griener led the ‘Pack offense, going three-for-three at the plate. Loyola scored one run in each of the first three innings.
In the second game of the doubleheader, communications junior David Musch pitched five innings for the victory.
The Rams took the first game of the series on Feb. 20. The ‘Pack had a 7-6 lead entering the top of the seventh inning. Then, Mobile surged ahead with 13 runs in the inning. Jeb Bauer, psychology junior, was the first recipient of the offensive onslaught. Bauer, who took the loss, got one out in the inning while giving up four runs.
Communications junior Kevin Kalina hit a solo homerun in the fifth inning and went three-for-four at the plate.
Loyola then lost two of three on the road against Belhaven last weekend. In a 5-4 loss in the first game, the Wolfpack’s ninth-inning rally fell short when Daniel Hearn struck out communications sophomore Hilton Pittman to end the game with the tying run on second.
In the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader, communications senior Ryan Moity evened the series with a game-winning double in the bottom of the fifth. The double scored general business junior Justin Perrone and gave the ‘Pack the lead for good at 2-1. Harris (3-0) allowed one unearned run in five and two-thirds innings for the victory.
Belhaven got the series victory with a 3-0 win in the last game of the series. Physics junior Bryan McCaulley (1-1) took the loss for the Wolfpack (9-4, 3-3), allowing three runs in five innings.
The ‘Pack returns to action this weekend against hated rival Spring Hill at Segnette Field. Friday’s game is at 6 p.m. On Saturday, the doubleheader begins at 1 p.m.
