There’s a question looming over Loyola baseball after being swept by Mobile and William Carey: will the Wolfpack regroup from its mid-season stumble to keep its hopes of reaching the national tournament alive?
For the first time since 2000, the Wolfpack received 13 votes in the national poll two weeks ago. Also, the ‘Pack is already four games shy of last season’s 18 wins. It’s simple. The more the team wins, the greater the chance of receiving votes.
“It’s (reaching nationals) still a goal,” Loyola coach Gregg Mucerino said. “We have to get back to the fundamentals.”
But with a competitive conference becoming tighter and a seemingly unbeatable William Carey (28-6, 16-2 in the Gulf Coast Athletic Conference) leading the race, the ‘Pack has its work cut out. After losing seven conference games in a row, Loyola (7-11 in the GCAC) has fallen into a fourth place tie with Belhaven College in the six- team conference.
“It’s going to be difficult to catch up (to William Carey), being so many games behind,” Mucerino said. “Once again, we have to return to fundamentals.”
The ‘Pack’s offense was kept quiet by Mobile during their three-game series. The Rams’ John Price pitched a complete game Friday, allowing an unearned run on five hits and striking out seven batters to help the Rams win 3-1.
Though David Musch, communications junior, only gave up three runs on eight hits in seven innings, the ‘Pack couldn’t match the Rams’ offense.
The Rams’ Danny Arroyo began Saturday’s doubleheader by pitching a complete game, allowing two runs on seven hits and striking out two batters.
Loyola scored its two runs in the bottom of the first and wouldn’t visit home plate again. Mobile immediately answered the ‘Pack’s early charge with four runs in the top of the second, one run in the third and two runs in the fifth inning to seal a 7-2 victory.
The ‘Pack kept Mobile’s bats quiet for the first four innings of the final game. Political science freshman James Blakeman pitched four innings, allowing one run on two hits. The ‘Pack also scored three runs in the first four innings.
But Mobile rallied quickly. Communications sophomore Brian Sullivan gave up seven runs on seven hits and walked two batters in one inning. Before stepping on the mound to relieve Blakeman, Sullivan had a record of 3-0.
Loyola defeated Mobile in the teams’ first series of the season two games to one on Feb. 20 and 21 at Segnette Field.
The Wolfpack showed the beginnings of a turnaround, especially offensively, in a 12-5 victory over Louisiana College at Segnette on Tuesday.
Business junior Kevin Kalina had four hits in five at-bats. He drove in three runs and scored three himself. He was a home run away from hitting for the cycle.
Communications senior Ryan Moity was also four for five.
Criminal justice junior and starting pitcher Jeff Pippenger got the win in his first decision of the season. Aside from Louisiana College’s four-run, four-hit second inning, Pippenger allowed one run on two hits with three walks in the other six innings he pitched.
Loyola (14-14) will attempt to continue its momentum when it hosts Belhaven at Turchin Stadium over the weekend.
