The Loyola baseball team began GCAC play this past weekend with three wins against Talladega College at Tornado Field, raising its overall record to 5-5 with a 3-0 record in conference.Tory Western, accounting junior, (1-2) got the win for the Wolfpack on Friday, giving up three runs, one of which was earned, and six hits in six innings.Western finished with eight strikeouts on the day helping the ‘Pack defeat the Tornados 8-3 in game one.Steven Budde, finance senior, led the Wolfpack offensively, going three for three with two doubles, two RBIs and one run scored.Doug Neill, computer science senior, went two for four with a solo homerun in the bottom of the fourth.The second game of the day found Brad Showalter, communications junior, (2-1) throwing a complete game shutout in an 18-0 victory for the ‘Pack (4-5, 2-0).Showalter only gave up three hits in seven innings, while adding two strikeouts to his total of seven.Chad Stouder, general studies senior, led the ‘Pack offensively going three for four with four runs scored and one RBI.Neill contributed to the assault, going two for three with three RBIs, along with Brian VanHaverbeke, management senior, who hit a solo homerun.The ‘Pack’s three-game series concluded on Sunday with the team defeating the Tornados 12-5. Budde (2-0) pitched six of the seven innings, giving up two runs, only one earned off two hits. Budde struck out four during the outing raising his total to 12.Jeff Quates, communications sophomore, led the ‘Pack at the plate going two for four with a double. Western contributed two hits as well as an RBI.”Starting off on the road 3-0 is a good way to begin conference game,” Western said. “Hopefully we’ll be able to sustain that momentum going into our first conference home series this weekend.” The high from sweeping the Tornadoes only lasted until Tuesday as the ‘Pack lost a tough game, 4-1 to the Belhaven Blazers.Though he gave up only two unearned runs, Scott Schenck, management junior, (0-2) received the loss after taking the mound for five innings at Blazer field.Schenck gave up only three hits, struck out three and walked three.Every run Belhaven managed was unearned, as the Wolfpack pitching staff gave up only five hits in nine innings. In the team’s next game at Barrow Stadium on Wednesday, the pitching staff didn’t fare as well, losing to the Southern University Jaguars 12-2.Southern hitters had 15 hits in seven innings. The ten-run ruling gave the ‘Pack an early finish.The Southern pitching staff gave up three hits and one walk on the night.Ryan Mahoney, general business junior, (0-1) was saddled with the loss for Loyola, throwing four innings and giving up eight runs, seven of which were earned.Mahoney gave up a total of ten hits and walked only one batter.The two midweek games against the NAIA Blazers and the Division I Jaguars pushed the ‘Pack’s record down to 5-7.The ‘Pack is scheduled to take on Mobile in its first home GCAC series of the season today at Wesley Barrow Stadium. First pitch is at 6 p.m.

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