Loyola lost all three games against LSU-Shreveport at home during the weekend series, with Shreveport outscoring the Wolfpack by 34 runs.
Though they started the series fifth in the GCAC, the three losses will put them in sixth, two games behind the University of Mobile, with eight games left before the conference tournament.
In addition to the momentum from their win over Southern University win, there was an added excitement from the naming of the All-Decade team, a ceremony that took place before the first pitch of the first game of the series. The only active member of the All-Decade team was closer and centerfielder Kevin Fontenot, physics senior.
“He’s been a really good player here,” said Wolfpack pitcher Mike Kelly, marketing senior. “Its kind of nice to look back and say you played with one of the better players at Loyola.”
The Wolfpack maintained the lead, benefiting from the strong pitching of Kelly and had a 3-0 lead heading into the fifth inning. However, the bullpen faltered, allowing seven runs in three innings while the Wolfpack offense stalled.
“Mike Kelly pitched well for the four innings he was in, but nobody else helped him,” said Wolfpack commentator Ricky Tuberville after the 7-3 loss in the first game of that day’s double-header.
After a rough outing in the first game, Loyola’s bullpen was forced into action early in the second game after business sophomore George Smith was ejected just one inning into his start for arguing a call made at first base. As Smith walked back to the mound, words were exchanged with the umpire and with a quick point from the umpire, Smith was directed towards the dugout.
Associate Athletic Director and third-base coach Bret Simpson said that Smith is not allowed to comment on the ejection due to sensitivity of the subject. Both umpires for the game declined to comment as well.
Wolfpack pitchers showed control problems through out the game, walking six and giving up 26 runs on 16 hits. In addition to their problems finding the strike zone, Loyola also had a problem with stray-pitched balls hitting batters.
“I’m dumbfounded, really,” said Tuberville on the web cast as the ‘Pack hit their twelfth batter of the game.
“That second game was pitiful,” said Kelly after the 26-3 loss. “It was just embarrassing, the way we played.” The game was stopped after seven innings due to the 10 run mercy rule.
Loyola’s attempt to salvage the last game of the series also fell short on Sunday, losing the series finale 9-2. Wolfpack starter and management junior Taylor Domengeaux had a rough outing, giving up eight runs on six hits and three walks.
“You got good work from Carl Labit and Eric Walsh did a good job of getting people out,” he said.
Labit, marketing senior, and Walsh, international business senior, pitched three innings each and quitted the Shreveport bats as only one run was scored after the third inning. Furry, however, is still worried about the bullpen.
“I think there’s a lot of concern (going into the conference tournament) that they hit people and walked people on Saturday. They can’t give guys free opportunities like that,” Furry said.
Hasani Grayson can be reached at
