Dillard Fights Back after a 11-run Loss

NEW ORLEANS– Loyola used one decisive inning at the plate and a deep bullpen effort to pull away from Dillard (LA), 7–3, on Tuesday night at Segnette (Feb. 3, 2026).

For three innings, Dillard looked in control behind starter Tillman, Jr., who worked three scoreless frames (3.0 IP, 2 H, 0 R) and kept Loyola from stringing together damage despite early traffic (2 walks).

Dillard struck first in the third when Eddie Velazquez continued a big night with an RBI single down the right-field line to score Tae Boze for a 1–0 lead. The visitors added another in the fourth on Mike Lewis' sacrifice fly, pushing the margin to 2–0.

Everything flipped in the bottom of the fourth. Loyola sent the lineup through and scored five runs, turning a two-run deficit into a 5–2 advantage. The rally featured:
- B. Harris RBI single (cutting it to 2–1)
- J. Lewis RBI double (tying it 2–2)
- J. Garcia two-run single up the middle (Loyola ahead 4–2)
- An additional run scoring when J. McKenzie reached on an error (unearned run)

Dillard answered once in the fifth—again through Eddie Velazquez, who drove in Boze with an RBI single to make it 5–3—but Loyola's bullpen shut the door from there.

 Late separation:
Loyola added two more in the sixth:
- J. Swasey RBI single for a 6–3 lead
- A run scoring on a balk to extend it to 7–3

Key performers:
Dillard (7 hits, 3 runs)
- Eddie Velazquez: 3-for-3, 2 RBI (drove in two of Dillard's three runs)
- Tae Boze: 1 hit, 2 runs scored, 1 walk, 2 stolen bases
- Mike Lewis: triple and an RBI (sac fly)

Dillard struck out 11 times and committed two errors, both of which mattered in a game decided by one big inning.

Loyola (7 hits, 7 runs)
- J. Garcia: 1-for-3, 2 RBI, plus a walk (delivered the go-ahead hit in the 4th)
- B. Harris: 1-for-2, RBI, walk, stolen base (spark in the 5-run inning)
- J. Lewis: 1-for-2 with an RBI double, walk, stolen base
- Loyola showed patience all night, drawing 9 walks.

 Pitching summary:
- Win: C. Holstein (Loyola) — 2.0 IP, 1 R, 5 K, stabilizing the game immediately after the momentum swing.
- Loss: Trenton Rosebourgh (Dillard) — charged with the pivotal fourth (1.0 IP, 5 R, 4 ER).
- Loyola relievers Fernandez and Ponson combined for 2.0 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts to finish it.


Dillard won the early innings, but Loyola's five-run fourth—powered by timely hits, disciplined at-bats, and a key defensive miscue—decided the contest. Loyola matched Dillard with seven hits, but the difference came in **free baserunners (9 walks)** and converting the middle innings into separation.

-Bleu Devils-