NEW ORLEANS, La. – The Spring Hill College baseball team dropped a non-conference loss to NAIA ninth-ranked Loyola University New Orleans, 9-5, tonight. The Badgers are now 15-12 on the year as the Wolfpack improves to 20-9.

Spring Hill wasted no time to strike in the top of the first when Jatneir Torres walked and later took second off Jordan Black's single to right. Torres was able to tag up and take third off Jaylen Jones flyout to right. He later scored off Andrew Juez's sacrifice bunt to first to make it 1-0 before the inning ended.

Both teams went scoreless for the next two innings, but in the top of the fourth, the Badgers pushed three runs across. With runners on first and second and one down, George Bode's RBI single through the right side scored Alex Roux to push the lead to 2-0. Following a pitching change, Robby Lopez walked to load the bases, and he was lifted for pinch runner Reggie Cooper. Torres's RBI groundout to the shortstop scored Moran and sent both Bode and Cooper to second and third. Both runners later scored off Black's two-run single up the middle to push the lead to 5-0.

The Wolfpack cut the lead to two when they plated three runs on one hit to make it a 5-3 game after four innings.

Loyola grabbed its first lead of the game in the bottom of the fifth when it plated three runs to go up 6-5.

The Badgers in the seventh threatened with bases loaded and two outs, but were unable to convert as a strikeout ended the inning.

The Wolfpack added another three runs in the eighth to push their lead to 9-5.

Spring Hill got the lead-off hitter aboard in the top of the night, but Loyola was able to induce a ground ball double play and a popout to end the game.

Reliever Bryce Coe took the loss (0-1) for his first of the year. He allowed six runs (five earned) on seven hits over three and two-thirds of an inning of work.

Jones finished the game going 3-for-5 with a double, while Moran was 3-for-4 with a run scored for Spring Hill.

Teammate Black tallied a pair of RBIs while going 2-for-5.

Spring Hill is back home this Saturday and Sunday when it hosts conference rival Savannah State University. The three-game series opens on Saturday with the doubleheader that starts at 1 p.m.