Box Score
LONG BEACH, Calif. (April 3, 2001) - In a 44-minute first inning, the
scoreboard told it all for Loyola Marymount University. Long Beach State
scored five runs on a mere two hits, as the 49ers capitalized on three
walks, an error and a hit batter all in the bottom of the first inning on
their way to a 10-4 win at Blair Field on Tuesday evening.
The Lions (15-21) jumped out early on 49ers’ starter Jason Berni, earning a
quick 2-0 lead with three hits to start the inning. Senior David Maffei led
the game with a double, which was followed by singles from freshman
Jonathan Higashi and junior C.J. Wilson.
However, an error by second baseman Billy Lockin put the leadoff hitter on
for the 49ers (19-10) and set the tone for a crazy inning that saw Long
Beach State score their first three runs of the game on no hits. After the
bases were loaded on a pair of walks by starter Vincent Cordova, the 49ers
scored their first run when Jeff Jones was hit by a pitch. A walk to Edgar
Varelas and a fielder’s choice to Chris Wright scored another two runs.
A single by Kaulana Kuhaulua and Corry Parrott’s first of two doubles
scored the other two runs in the first inning. Cordova earned the loss,
falling to 2-2 on the season.
LMU would cut into the 49ers’ lead with a triple from Wilson to leadoff the
third inning. He would score on Kris Zacuto’s sacrifice fly to right field
to put the score at 5-3.
The 49ers would answer with a pair in the fourth inning and three more in
the fifth to put the chance of a Lions’ comeback out of reach. Wright
finished the game 3-for-4 with three runs scored, Parrott was 2-for-4 with
two doubles and Kuhaulua was 3-for-5.
The Lions would add a run in the top of the sixth when Moon Cordero, who
reached on a double, scored on a fielder’s choice by Jack Brooks. Cordero,
Maffei and Wilson all finished the game 2-for-4 as all three had an extra
base hit. The Lions finished with 10 hits, but struck out 17 times, tied
for the third most strikeouts for the 49er pitching staff in program history.
A four-game road trip will continue to for the Lions as they travel to
Moraga for a three-game set in West Coast Conference play against Saint
Mary’s starting on Friday.
