Loyola sweeps doubleheader at LSU-Alexandria to open season

ALEXANDRIA, La. – The Loyola Wolf Pack baseball team started the 2024 season on Friday, defeating LSU Alexandria twice on the road, 10-1 and 5-1. Loyola will open up its home schedule at Segnette Field on Tuesday, facing off against crosstown foe Xavier at 7 p.m.

Game 1: (RV) Loyola 10, LSUA 1 (7)

After a scoreless first inning, the Wolf Pack got on the board in the second inning with two runs. Kason Cullins led off the frame with a double, then advanced to third on an outfield error. A groundout by Anthony Fernandez plated the first run, followed by Collin Zeringue’s solo home run in his first career at-bat in a Loyola uniform. LSUA got one run back in the bottom half, but Brandon Mooney scored on an infield error to get that run back and make it a 3-1 lead.

Cullins picked up an RBI in the fifth inning to take a 4-1 lead, scoring Prescott Marsh, then Fernandez doubled home Cullins, 5-1, off the left-center field wall. A Marsh single in the sixth inning brought Mooney home for the second time in the game, 6-1, and the Wolf Pack added four more runs in the seventh for good measure. An error off the bat of Jaxon Buratt pushed the advantage to 7-1, and Mooney picked up the next RBI when he flew out to center two at-bats later. Finally, a single from Marcus Steen scored two more runs to end Loyola’s scoring.

Stephen Still, Loyola’s all-time strikeout leader, got the opening day start and he looked in mid-season form. The senior struck out seven – four looking – in five innings of work. He allowed just one earned run off four hits while not giving up a walk during his outing. Nathan Monceaux and Hunter Ponson each pitched a scoreless inning in relief while allowing no hits, too. Ponson struck out two and Monceaux got a couple of fly outs and a groundout to keep up the dominance on the mound.

Game 2: (RV) Loyola 5, LSUA 1

Both teams were held scoreless through the first five innings, as Brady Bowen was dealing on the mound for the Wolf Pack. Steen doubled with one out to start a sixth-inning rally, and Marsh brought home the game’s first run on an infield error. Two batters later, Fernandez blasted a two-run homer to give Loyola a 3-0 lead.

Bowen’s day was done after six innings of work. The junior allowed just one hit throughout his day while striking out five.

Loyola made it 4-0 in the top of the seventh when Landon Trosclair led off by reaching base on an error. He stole second to get into scoring position, then scored on another infield error by the Generals. The Pack added to their lead in ninth, and it was once again Trosclair who got things started. The Wolf Pack catcher walked with one out and pinch-hitter Jed Cambre tripled in the run to extend their lead to 5-0.

Frank Fernandez entered to pitch the seventh and eighth, and he was equally as dominant as his teammate. The freshman struck out three while not giving up a hit, facing the minimum of six batters. Payton Cooper finished things off in the ninth on the mound, and the junior transfer struck out two batters.

Pack Facts

Loyola has now won five straight against LSUA dating back to last season.

The Wolf Pack’s 10 runs in Game 1 were the most for the team in a season opener since Jeremy Kennedy’s first season as head coach, when the team beat Tougaloo 12-0 on Jan. 25, 2020.

Loyola has started 2-0 in eight of the last nine seasons.

Stephen Still, who became Loyola’s all-time leader in strikeouts last season, struck out seven batters in five innings to earn the win in Game 1.

Still, who ranks fourth in program history in pitching wins, has 20 for his career.

Brady Bowen only allowed one hit and one walk in a career-best six innings on the mound, getting the win in Game 2 while striking out five.

The first six batters in order (Brandon Mooney, Marcus Steen, Prescott Marsh, Kason Cullins, Anthony Fernandez, Collin Zeringue) all recorded at least one hit in Game 1. Mooney, Marsh, Cullins, and Fernandez all had multiple hits, while Zeringue hit the first Wolf Pack home run this season.

Fernandez hit a two-run homer to give the Pack a 3-0 lead in the 6th inning of Game 2. He also hit a home run in the second game of his freshman season.