Baseball Sweeps Xavier to End Regular Season

SLIDELL, LA. (April 27, 2024) – The Our Lady of the Lake University (OLLU) baseball squad swept Xavier University of Louisiana (XULA) in a Red River Athletic Conference (RRAC) three-game series this weekend. The Saints finish the regular season at 27-22 overall and 16-14 in conference play. The Gold Rush are now 18-23 and 11-19 in the RRAC.

Head Coach Matt Piker said, "I'm very happy with getting the sweep this weekend. The team competed and fought very well. We weren't very clean defensively in two out of the three games. The pitching staff gave the offense a chance, and the offense did a fabulous job executing. We have a quick turnaround and must get ready for the conference tournament. We're excited to go to Sterlington next weekend and it should be a lot of fun."

History

The Saints were 6-1 against the Gold Rush prior to the series.

Game One

The first game was dominated by hitting. Both squads totaled two runs in the first inning. The Gold Rush plated five runs in the bottom of the third inning to take a 7-2 lead. The Saints responded in the top of the fourth inning. Caimyn Holiday doubled to score two runs and D'Artagnan Perez-Padron singled to score Alejandro Rodriguez. Vincent Banda hit a sacrifice fly that scored Perez-Padron in the sixth inning to trail by only one run. The Gold Rush put up two runs in the seventh inning to lead by three. The Saints stepped up in the eighth inning with impressive at-bats. Rodriguez singled to bring home Jack Kalisky and cut the lead to 9-7. Atkinson gave the Saints a permanent advantage later in the inning. He hit a double down the left field line that scored all three runners. Kalisky earned a save after not allowing a hit in the final inning. The Saints won 10-9 backed by 10 hits. Devin Benavides started on the mound and went six innings with six strikeouts in a no decision. Chase Dunn grabbed the win after two innings of work.

Game Two

The Saints downed the Gold Rush in the second game 8-4. The Saints scored seven of their runs in the third inning after the Gold Rush took an early lead. Diego Zuniga started the scoring after reaching on an error that allowed a run to come home. Kalisky grounded out and picked up an RBI when Holiday scored. Banda doubled to score two runs and Allison singled to also bring in two runners. Rodriguez continued the scoring with a triple that scored Allison. Holiday hit a solo home run in the sixth inning for OLLU's eighth run. Donovan Gamez earned the win after striking out three batters in four innings. Ethan Garza and Kalisky pitched in relief.

Game Three

The Saints put up double-digit runs in the series finale. The Gold Rush scored the first runs of the game again in the first inning. Their lead held until the top of the fifth inning. Kalisky hit a two-run home run that scored Banda to tie the contest. Rodriguez gave the Saints the advantage in the seventh inning on a sacrifice bunt. OLLU's offense exploded in the eighth inning for nine runs. Perez-Padron, Banda, Rodriguez, Allison and Holiday all recorded RBIs. Kobey Allison tallied four RBIs with a grand slam. The Saints won 12-2 to complete the series sweep. Noah De La Riva improved to 8-5 on the mound. He struck out five batters in six innings of work. Hector Rogerio III pitched the final two innings with four strikeouts.

Up next

The Saints head to Sterlington, La., to compete in the RRAC Tournament from May 1-7.