With a tenth consecutive Gulf Coast Athletic Conference loss only three outs away, the Loyola baseball team staved off defeat twice and finally emerged with a win.
On April 2 and 3 at Turchin Stadium, the Belhaven Blazers defeated Loyola on Friday night and in the first game of Saturday’s doubleheader.
The Blazers took an 8-7 lead in the top of the last inning in the final game of the series. General business junior Justin Perrone drove in the tying run with a single.
Then, in the eighth inning, the ‘Pack again had to score in its half of the inning to avoid the series sweep. Communications senior Ryan Moity got an RBI on a fielder’s choice as communications freshman Andy Rodgriguez scored to tie the game at nine.
In the bottom of the ninth, business junior Brad Rodrigue doubled with one out. Pinch runner Bryan McCaulley, pre-engineering sophomore, scored the winning run after Perrone struck out.
The Blazer catcher dropped the third strike and tried to throw out Perrone at first. But his throw went into right field, allowing McCaulley to score and giving the WolfPack a much-needed conference win.
The ‘Pack is now in fifth place in the GCAC with an 8-13 mark.
Coach Gregg Mucerino said that he told his team that a lesser group would have quit if faced with the Loyola’s situation against the Blazers.
“No matter how bleak the game looks, our guys scrap and claw to the last out,” Mucerino said. “That’s a commendable characteristic. Hopefully, we will get going again.”
Mucerino said that the win was important for the team.
“It was big,” he said. “It was certainly big to finally get a win. Every time we play there (Turchin Stadium), we haven’t done so well. We showed a lot of character and fortitude to stay in it. To lose a four run lead and fight back shows a lot of heart.”
In the first game of the series, Belhaven’s Andy Thibodeaux shut down the ‘Pack in a 2-0 victory. He threw a complete-game four-hitter with eight strikeouts.
Communications junior David Musch (2-6) was the hard-luck loser for Loyola. He pitched the whole game and gave up six hits. Both runs were unearned, the result of two errors and otherwise poor defense.
In the second game of the series, Loyola lost 6-2, again allowing only unearned runs.
As the GCAC tournament approaches, Muerino said that the health of the team’s starting pitching is essential.
Weekend starters Justin Harris, marketing junior, and Bryan McCaulley, physics junior, have been hampered by arm soreness in recent weeks. Mucerino said he hopes to have them ready by the tournament.
“They could possibly throw in relief this weekend,” he said. “Starting pitching is everything. The bullpen has done a good job, but injuries have had a trickle down effect.”
Mucerino said the team came back rejuvenated after Easter break.
“The break was good, and we have a new mindset and spirit,” he said. “We recommitted ourselves to getting things back on track. I feel real good about that.”
Gene Guillot can be reached at [email protected].
