The Loyola baseball team started the season with a three-game sweep over Tougaloo College last weekend at Segnette Field.
On Friday, four pitchers combined for a no-hitter in a 17-1 victory. A Bulldog batter was hit by a pitch and later scored when the ball was thrown out of play.
Communications junior David Musch picked up the victory, going four innings. He gave up the unearned run and struck out seven in his Wolfpack debut.
Criminal justice junior Jeff Pippenger, communications sophomore Brian Sullivan and political science freshman James Blakeman each pitched a no-hit inning before the game was called for the 10-run rule.
Biology junior David Greiner and communications junior Kevin Kalina both went two for three and combined for four RBIs.
On Saturday, Loyola won 19-0 during the first game of the doubleheader and won the second game 22-0. Loyola racked up 31 total hits in the two games.
Marketing junior Justin Harris and physics junior Brian McCaulley both picked up victories for the ‘Pack.
Coach Gregg Mucerino said he thinks the sweep gave his team a boost of confidence.
“It got us off on the right foot,” Mucerino said. “Before we thought we could do good things, but now we know we can. At the same time, it’s ancient history. We’ll face stiffer competition down the road. But everybody got to get some at-bats, and all our pitchers threw at least one inning.”
Team captain Ryan Moity, communications senior, said that the series was a good tuneup.
“Anytime you get on the field and play, you work hard,” Moity said. “So it was a good way to get ready for this upcoming weekend.”
The Wolfpack is scheduled to host the Global Bullion Trading Group Shootout starting today at Segnette Field. Loyola will play Texas Wesleyan on Friday, Thomas College on Saturday and Mississippi College on Sunday.
Moity said that the tournament is important to establish Loyola as a team to be reckoned with.
“We’re all really positive about this upcoming weekend,” he said. “We’ve got some tough games against some nationally ranked teams, but if we take care of business this could really earn us some respect and put Loyola on the map.”
