Taylor Hodges, Sports Information Director

NEW ORLEANS, La. – The No. 8 Lions (5-1) dropped their first game of the season 2-0 in game one of a four-game series at Loyola University (8-3), but came back from a two-run deficit and won 3-2 in game two to split the first two games of the set.

After giving up two runs in the bottom of the first inning of game one, Jacob Sawyers settled in and finished strong, only giving up one hit in the remaining six innings while striking out nine batters in the complete-game effort.

It was a tough evening offensively for FHU, only getting three hits in the contest and leaving seven runners on base. Bryce Lester, Will McCall and Zach Mueller recorded the three hits for the Lions.

Game two seemed to be headed down the same path for the Lions with Alex Huey on the mound.

The reining AMC Pitcher of the Week struck out the first three batters he saw, but gave up one run in each of the second and third innings to put the Lions down 2-0 yet again.

The bats got hot for the visitors in the fifth inning, though, after Zach Sanders led the inning off with a walk followed by a single by Cole Nichols. Christian Busby moved them both over with a sacrifice bunt before Lester loaded the bases with a walk.

Dom Pisano came to the plate with just one out and was able to rip a two-RBI double down the first-base line to tie the game heading into the bottom half of the inning.

After Huey kept the Wolfpack off the board in the fifth and the sixth, the Lions were able to take the lead in the seventh after Pisano walked with two outs and was driven in by Josh Sears who hit a deep double off the wall in right field.

Huey retired the side in order with his eighth and ninth strikeouts of the game in the seventh before Tyler Duskin entered in the eighth inning to record the two-out save.

The series will continue on Saturday with another double-header beginning at 12 noon.