PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Christian University baseball team found itself down 5-0 in its Mardi Gras Day battle with #12 Loyola New Orleans, but the Wildcats battled back to have the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth, but the rally was snuffed out on the base paths in a 6-4 loss to the Wolf Pack Tuesday afternoon at Billy Allgood Field at Legacy Stadium.
After both teams got out of the first inning without giving up a base runner, Loyola got on the board in the second inning with a two-out, three-run home run. In the third, they added to it as the leadoff batter was hit by a pitch and was immediately followed by another home run to put the Wolf Pack up 5-0.
LCU broke through in the fifth inning, thanks in part to the starting pitcher losing his control. A walk, hit batter, and walk loads the bases for
Nicolas Ramos, who also wears a pitch to force home
Nick Brunet and get the Wildcats on the board.
Adrian Aguilar's base hit to center with two outs scored
Dru Scully and the Wildcats were back within 5-2 at the end of the fifth inning.
Loyola added what turned out to be a key insurance run in the sixth to bump the LCU deficit to four runs at 6-2.
With the outs running out for LCU, the Wildcats started to mount its rally with two outs in the eighth. With no runners on,
Keelyn Johnson singled to left-center to get the rally started. With
Dylan David running for Johnson,
Ju'Juan Franklin dropped a base hit in left, also moving Davis up 90 feet.
Nick Brunet then drove a pitch to the deepest part of the field, over the center fielder's head and to the wall, for a double that scored both David and Franklin to make the score 6-4 and brought the tying run to the plate. A base hit by
Ty Morgan put runners on the corners, but that's where they would remain when the inning ended.
After getting Loyola out of the top of the ninth with no damage done, the Wildcats looked to steal the win in the bottom of the ninth.
Beau Freeman drew a walk with one out, and then
Alex Ashby beat out a slow roller to third with two outs to bring the winning run to the plate. But a tight call on a pick-off at second base went against the Wildcats for the final out.
Ju'Juan Franklin was the only Wildcat batter with multiple hits in the game, going two of four with a run scored.
Nick Brunet went one-for-three with two RBI, a run scored, and drew a walk.
Adrian Aguilar and
Nicolas Ramos also picked up a RBI each.
Beau Hebert (1-2) threw the first three innings and gave up four hits and five runs, all earned, walked one and struck out five.
Branon Pope threw 2.1 innings and allowed four hits and one run, which was earned, walked two and struck out one.
Colten Newsom went 1.2 innings and allowed only one hit with no runs with one walk and four strikeouts.
Chase Gardner closed out the final two innings and didn't allow a hit or run with no strikeouts and two walks.
The Wildcats (11-4, 5-1 RRAC) return to conference play on Friday on the road to open a three-game set against Texas College. First pitch of Friday's single game against the Steers (0-6, 0-6) is set for 6:00 P.M. at the TC Baseball Field in Tyler, Texas.
