JACKSON, Tenn. – No. 7 seed Tennessee Southern came out swinging but could not hold off a late surge, falling 16–10 to No. 6 seed Loyola in SSAC Championship play Thursday night at Rockabillys Stadium.
The Firehawks jumped on Loyola early with a three-run first inning. Zac Wilson reached to open the frame and Anthony Pastrana followed, setting the table for Evan Nelson, who delivered an RBI single. Nelson later came around to score, and Hudson Schmitz added an RBI groundout to give Tennessee Southern a 3–0 lead.
Tennessee Southern kept the pressure on in the second with a four-run inning. Gage Beckner reached and Masato Mizumori followed with a walk before Pastrana ripped a two-RBI single up the middle. Nelson struck again with a two-RBI single, pushing the Firehawks advantage to 7–0.
Loyola began to chip away in the fourth before erupting in the fifth to tie the game and shift momentum.
The Firehawks answered in the sixth. Mizumori doubled to spark the inning, and Nelson delivered once again with a two-RBI double down the left-field line, bringing Tennessee Southern back within striking distance at 11–9.
Tennessee Southern added another run in the eighth. Cooper Phillips singled and later scored as Gage Beckner delivered an RBI single to cut the deficit to 15–10.
Nelson led the Firehawks with a standout performance, going 4-for-6 with a double and four RBIs. Pastrana added a hit and two RBIs, while Beckner recorded a hit and an RBI.
Mizumori contributed a double and scored twice, and Phillips added a hit and scored a run. Schmitz drove in a run, and Wilson scored three times and reached base multiple times to set the tone at the top of the lineup.
On the mound, Jake Stuteville got the start, working into the fourth inning. The Firehawks used a bullpen-by-committee effort the rest of the way, with Mac Etheredge, Collin Perkins, Tavien Tigg, Will Vines, and Jackson Moon all seeing action.
Tennessee Southern will continue SSAC Championship play on Friday, May 1, facing Thomas in Jackson, Tenn.
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