Loyola’s bats power them past Foreman

Updated: May 23, 2011 9:29PM

In the first round of the Niles Regional, No. 10 Loyola defeated No. 22 Foreman 15-2 in five innings.

With the wind gusting, the Ramblers (14-18) belted four home runs, which scored 10 of the team’s runs.

“Offensively, we were aggressive after the first inning,” said Loyola head coach Bill Sam Hamel. “It was nice to be able to put some runs on the board and obviously, Logan carried us today with some home runs. Once we got the ball rolling there, momentum just went our way.”

In the bottom of the first, after sophomore outfielder Danny Rafferty drove in the game’s first run with a single, junior catcher Logan Spurlin hit his first of three homeruns to make it 3-0.

After a string of three singles, the Hornets (9-13) cut the deficit to 3-2, but that would be the closest that they would get.

Loyola completely opened up the contest in the following two innings while scoring six runs in the second and five in the third.

Senior outfielder Pat Rahill brought in three runs with a home run to make it 7-2. Two batters later Spurlin hit his second jack to extend the lead to seven.

Spurlin finished his perfect 3-for-3 day in the fifth with his third two-run home run to increase the lead to 14-2.

“I was just seeing the ball well today,” said Spurlin. “I was just trying to put the ball in play and got lucky a few times I guess.”

With all of the batters doing their job, two Loyola pitchers held steady and limited Foreman to just two runs on six hits.

Senior starting pitcher Jack Marren pitched three innings giving up two runs on six hits and striking out two.

Senior relief pitcher John O’Connell was lights out in his two innings of work as he struck out four while not allowing a hit.

“Those two guys were in the game today to throw strikes,” said Sam Hamel. “You can’t underestimate any opponent and being the first game of a playoff series, I wanted two guys in there who were going to be able to throw a lot of strikes and attack their hitters.”

Rahill finished the game 1-for-2 with a home run, four RBIs and Rafferty went 3-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base.

Senior second baseman Max Hogan went 1-for-2 with a double, a stolen base and was hit in the head by a pitch. Hogan would leave the game and get checked out by a trainer, but was fine.

The Ramblers will now have two practices to get ready for a familiar foe in Notre Dame and one pitcher might be the solution to avenge an early season 12-4 loss.

“We just have to have a good practice tomorrow and the next day,” Spurlin said. “We have to keep the bats hot and Jack Richmond, a junior lefty, will throw really well. He’s been coming in clutch for us lately.”

Loyola will compete in the regional semifinals against the Dons this Thursday at 4:15 p.m. in Niles.

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