No. 17 Pilots Earn Series Win Over Loyola
April 19, 2009
*Story Courtesy of the Loyola Sports Information Office
Westwego, La. - No. 17 LSUS hit five home runs, including two by Chase Wentz, en route to a 23-9 run-rule victory over Loyola University in eight innings on Sunday afternoon at Segnette Field.
Up 15-9 in the seventh inning, the Pilots ended the game by hitting four home runs to put Loyola away for good. Jeff Garidel started the barrage with a solo shot in the seventh. In the eighth, Kyle Lawrence led the inning off with a home run. NAIA National Player of the Week Andrew Brouillette added a 3-run homer, and Chase Wentz made the score 23-9 with his own 3-run shot.
Loyola (11-34, 8-24 GCAC) hung around for most of the game, scoring at least a run in the first six innings. Slade Sanders put the Wolfpack up 2-0 in the second on a RBI single to right.
After loading the bases in the third, LSUS (37-11, 25-6 GCAC) responded with three runs after a bases clearing double by Garidel.
With the game tied at 4-4 in the fifth, the Pilots took control by scoring five runs, capped off by a 2-run shot by Chase Wentz to make the score 9-4.
Loyola got within two in the fifth after back-to-back home runs by Matt Wendt and Bryan Lavoie, but would not get any closer for the rest of the game.
The Pilots scored six in the sixth which included a RBI single by Kyle Pearson and a 2-run double by Lawrence. The Pilots then put the game away with the four home runs.
Scott Petroski (4-0) was the winning pitcher, going 2.0 innings in relief, giving up five runs on five hits.
The Pilots were led by Garidel with three hits with six RBI and Wentz with three hits and five RBI. Brouillette and Lawrence had three RBI each.
Bobby Alvarez (0-1) picked up the loss, giving up four runs on four hits in 1.0 inning pitched.
Lavoie was 4-of-4 for the day including his second homer of the season. Brooks McMinn had two hits and a RBI, and Wendt had two RBI for the Wolfpack.
LSUS is currently 1 1/2 games behind GCAC leader William Carey with just three games remaining in the regular season. The Pilots will conclude the conference schedule next weekend in Mobile with a three-game series versus Spring Hill College.
