HATTIESBURG, Miss. – No. 9 William Carey dropped the opening game against Loyola University 11-2 Thursday night at Milton Wheeler Field.
 
The Wolfpack struck first with a two out RBI single to left in the first inning to take the early lead. Carey had some early chances with their best coming in the third inning on back-to-back hits by Ty Little and Rigoberto Hernandez put runners on second and third with one out but was unable to capitalize.
 
The 1-0 lead for Loyola held until the fourth inning when three free passes would come back to haunt the Crusaders, as pinch hitter Garrett Beadle cleared the bases with a grandslam to left. Later in the inning, Brandon Mooney made it a six-run advantage with an RBI single to right with the Wolfpack adding to their lead with runs in the fifth and sixth inning to make it 10-0.
 
Carey would stave off the run rule defeat, as Eli Collins and Preston Ratliff went back-to-back with doubles in the bottom of the sixth to put WCU on the board. After a walk by Tyler Ducksworth put runners on first and second with one out, Jayden Mark singled to left, scoring Ratliff to make it 10-2.
 
Loyola again added to their lead with a run in the ninth with Hernandez launching a two-run shot in the bottom half of the inning to get Carey within seven. DeeJay Booth followed with a single to left but Loyola again limited the damage to just the two runs to seal the victory.
 
WCU is back in action tomorrow, as they wrap up the series with a double header beginning at 1:00 pm at Milton Wheeler Field.