Just over a week into the baseball season and Spalding is already showing quality form, as more proof came Wednesday.

The three-time defending Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A Conference champions received more superb pitching, played flawless defense and used the long ball to claim a 4-0 win over visiting Loyola Blakefield.

The Cavaliers, now 6-0 on the season, blanked the Dons for a second straight game as the teams will complete the conference opening three-game set Friday.

Starter pitcher Peyton Mamula went four-plus innings to get the win with left-handed reliever Sam Houchens retired all eight Dons he faced as the two combined for a one-hit shutout. Noah Vasey and Cruz Luna hit home runs and third baseman Mike Farley keyed the strong work on defense.

“We’re 6-0, but I feel like we still have a lot to work do,” said Mamula, who allowed one hit while striking out five. “I think our hitting can definitely do better. With us, it’s never be satisfied. So I think we’re definitely in a good spot right now, but we got to keep working.”

The Dons, who left the bases loaded against the Cavaliers in the first inning of Monday’s 2-0 loss, got two one-out walks against Mamula in the opening frame but again couldn’t break through. Clean-up hitter Derek Seiss went deep in the count before Mamula got him to fly out. Mamula then got out of the jam by striking out Will Kelly.

Run support came in the third and fifth innings with help from the long ball. Vasey pulled a ball over the fence in left field to make it 1-0 and the Cavaliers added another run in the frame when Drew Emrich doubled and scored on Theo Loughlin’s two-out single. Lunahit a two-run homer over the fence in right to make it 4-0 in the fifth inning, more than enough for the Cavaliers’ pitching and defense.

The Dons had two runners on in the third when third baseman Mike Farley charged a roller and threw out Seiss to end the inning. Vasey made a diving catch in left to get the Dons’ first out in the fourth. Shortstop Judah Shirlen went a long way in the outfield to catch up to a popup by Vance Tyree to get the opening out in the fifth.

“We got to clean up some details on offense, but overall I’ve been really pleased with our pitching and defense,” Spalding coach Joe Palumbo said.

Loyola falls to 1-2, but coach Mike Kelly isn’t deterred. The Dons got fine pitching from starter Tanner Robertson and relief work by Trent Mueck. Ryan Clary and Gavin Pope both walked twice and Luke Springer recorded their only hit, a one-out single in the fourth.

“We’re still learning some things,” Kelly said. “Our two pitchers today are young guys, both juniors, so we’re trying to see what we have in them and they pitched great as far as we’re concerned. We lost [a combined] 6-0 against these guys in these two games, so I told them it’s nothing to get down about. It’s a long season and we just got to keep fighting. We just happened to start with the best team, which makes it a little tough.”

The teams will close out their three-game set at Loyola on Friday with first pitch set for 4 p.m.

Loyola — 0-0-0-0-0-0-0 — 0-1-2

Spalding — 0-0-2-0-2-0-x — 4-8-0

WP — Mamula

LP — Robertson

2B: S — Emrich

HR: S — Vasey, Luna

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