The Loyola men’s baseball team is 10-12, and head coach Don Moreau is four games from becoming the winningest coach in Loyola history. The Wolfpack snarled its way through ten games — 70 innings — in nine days.Moreau is set to replace the late Louis “Rags” Scheuermann, who holds the record with 234 games won.The long stretch of games began with a March 4, double-header at Barrow Stadium against the University of Mobile Rams. The early game was a tough loss for the ‘Pack with pitcher Tory Western, accounting junior (1-2), giving up eight runs on 11 hits, in an 8-1 loss. Fortunately, Loyola would not lie low for long, coming out of hibernation in the second game of the double-header with a 10-8 victory against the Rams. This game featured the quick sticks of Scott Schenck, management junior, and Mike Scaglione, political science senior, each going two of four, and pulling 2 RBI’s as well. Schenck (1-2) also contributed from the mid-hill, earning the victory on 4.2 innings, giving up six runs and six hits and serving strikeouts which sent five batters to the quickseat. March 5 brought the Christian Brothers Buccaneers to New Orleans for a two-day, two-game, throwdown with the ‘Pack at Barrow Stadium. The first game wasn’t one of the finer showings for Loyola. CBU’s Wes Hoover won a trip for four around the bases when he ripped a grand slam off of Alan Bouterie, economics junior (0-1), in the top of the eighth, leaving the score at 10-7 Christian Brothers.The affair ended in a 15-7 loss, with CBU (7-5) defeating Loyola (6-10). A few lanterns in the cavern for the ‘Pack were Western, Brian VanHaverbeke, management senior, and Schenck with two hits a piece for the ‘Pack. Loyola relievers gave up 12 runs in four innings of volunteerism. March 6 the ‘Pack’s Ryan Mahoney, general business junior, avenged the loss from the day before by hurling a one-hit wonder from the mound in a 10-0 whipping of Christian Brothers at Barrow Stadium. “We went right at every hitter,” said Mahoney, who showed seven to the quickseat with strikeouts. The only hit for CBU came from a bunt by third baseman Hoover. “You have to give Ryan credit; he had great command of all his pitches; and he came up big when we needed a strong outing,” Coach Moreau said.Mahoney wasn’t the only Ryan getting dirty on the diamond. Loyola’s Ryan Moity, communications sophomore, led the ‘Pack offensively, going five for five with four runs scored and an RBI. Loyola’s Western and Doug Neill, computer science senior, each swung 2 for 4. The victory brought the ‘Pack to seven wins and 10 losses heading into a three-game weekend series with GCAC rival Spring Hill in Mobile, Alabama. The set with Spring Hill started with a split double-header on March 9. In the first game, the Badgers (10-15, 2-5) scored a lone run in the bottom of the seventh to record a 4-3 victory. Schenck (1-3) came up short for the ‘Pack, going six plus innings and giving up four runs, two earned, on three hits.Fortunately, the tables turned in the second game of the day. Neill launched a two run homer in the top of the seventh to secure a 4-1 Loyola victory. Western (2-2) got the victory for the vengeful ‘Pack. Mahoney also pitched a perfect seventh inning for his second save of the year.In the third game of the three-game series with Spring Hill on March 10, VanHaverbeke’s home run and David Griener’s double in the top of the tenth would bring home a 7 – 6 triumph for the Wolfpack. Griener is a biology freshman. Loyola won the series against Spring Hill.On March 13, Loyola split its games, losing 14-8 to Blackburn College and later rallying to beat Trinity University.Paul Knoth, general business sophomore, had the win, giving up only one run and five hits in the 10-1 win and recording his first collegiate victory.The loss against Blackburn was hard fought, going 13 innings. The Beavers scored seven runs in the top of the 13th inning, giving them the win.The ‘Pack will face William Carey in a three-game Gulf Coast Athletic Conference series this weekend.
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