The Loyola Academy Baseball team edged DePaul Prep in a pitcher’s duel, 3-2 Tuesday night.

Loyola pitcher Daniel Reischl was credited with the win. Reischl pitched 6 innings, allowing only 3 hits while striking out 9 batters. The University of Wisconsin-LaCrosse commit secured his first win of the year, he is now 1-1. The Ramblers moved to 5-3 on the young season.

On the offensive side, the Rambler bats were quiet with only 3 hits to go along with 4 walks. However, once on the base paths, they gave DePaul Prep’s fielders a challenging time.

The scoring opened up in the first, when lead off hitter Charley Radtke gave a tough at bat that resulted in a walk. Radtke then did what he does best: steal bases. First he took second, then with the next batter up he took third.

Mike Regan then hit a long fly ball to left field, Radtke tagged up and scored.

“That was a tough matchup for us, going up against a pitcher who’s committed to an ACC school isn’t easy. My goal was just to make him work and get on base,” Radtke would go on to say after the game.

That would be DePaul freshman Luke Oblen, who is committed to play at Louisville in college. Oblen went 4 innings, allowing only 1 hit, 7 strikeouts, and 3 walks, two of which were to Radtke.

After the first inning, scoring came to a stand still. Both pitchers had no-hitters through three innings. The top of the fourth is where the Ramblers struck again using their gritty, small ball style.

Mikey Regan singled to center field. He stole second on a wild pitch, before advancing to third on another error. Then he stole home to make it 2-0 Ramblers.

Their aggressive style makes them a threat anytime they get on the base paths. It turned out both no-no’s would end after three, as Reischl gave up a double to the lead-off man Hartman in the bottom of the fourth. Hartman proved the first challenge of the Ramblers defense.

After getting behind early in the count, Reischl punched out the next two batters. Phillips then grounded out to Nelson at first, ending the danger.

The scoring scares continued to the sixth for Reischl. “I just knew I had to get through that inning. (Noah) Klein was warming up for the 7th, and I told myself just get through this,” Reischl went on to say after the game.

He would not escape the inning without giving up a run, however. Rivera singled to open up the inning, then Reischl threw it over Nelson’s head trying to pick him off. Rivera advanced on the error. Garcia then slotted a ball through the infield for a single, where Rivera scored.

No outs, 2-1, this game was no longer in control for the Ramblers.

But Reischl fired back, striking out the next two batters, before ending the inning with a loud out to center field from Martinez. The momentum was back on Loyola’s side.

In the bottom of the sixth Junior Hayden Kriston, who was looking for his fourth game in a row with a home run, reached first on an error. Once again, Loyola’s “small ball” brought him around to third, and he scored on a groundout from Senior Edward Mahoney. It was 3-1 heading to the top of the seventh.

Senior flamethrower Noah Klein came in to close the game for Loyola. After a tough missed diving catch by Radtke, DePaul Prep was on the bases. Yolich would go on to score on a wild pitch the next at bat.

But that was all, Klein would strike out the final two batters, and close the game for the Ramblers.

“Just a great, hard fought team win. I’m happy with how I pitched today and how my team backed me up,” Reischl said.

On what felt like the first sign of the summer to come, there was a vibrant atmosphere at the game. Many students attended, and they certainly brought the noise. Additionally, there was a positivity about the competition. Everyone was happy to be outside, enjoying a perfect spring day.