Feb. 24, 2002

Final Stats

Austin, TX (February 24) -- The Loyola Marymount University (LMU) baseball team fell to the No. 17 Texas Longhorns 8-2 in the finale of a three-game set on Sunday, Feb. 24, in front of 3,739 in attendance at Disch-Falk Field. It was the first-ever series between the two programs.

The Lions couldn't overcome Texas starter Brad Halsey, who pitched seven and one third strong innings and allowed just one earned run to pick up his second victory of the season. The Lions fall to 4-8 on the season. It was the Longhorns ninth straight victory, improving them to 12-2 on the season.

A leadoff triple from second baseman Tim Moss got things started for the Horns in the first as left fielder Eric Sultemeier would follow with a RBI-single in the very next at-bat to put UT out in front with an early 1-0 lead. Moss would come through again for the Horns with the bases loaded in the second inning, by beating out a fielder's choice to drive in Nic Crosta with another run and extend the UT advantage to 2-0.

The Lions would split the lead in half by adding a run off a two-out error through the left side of the infield in the fourth that would score senior Tommy Perez. The Horns would respond with three runs in the bottom of the frame, led by a two-out solo home run to right-center field from senior Jeff Ontiveros, his first of the year, and then three consecutive singles from Kalani Napoleon , Moss and Sultemeier to put Texas ahead 5-1. By the end of the sixth inning, UT held an 8-1 advantage, powered by three more runs off RBI-doubles from Ryan Hubele and Ontiveros.

LMU would cut into the Texas lead with a solo home run from Kris Zacuto in the eighth. It was Zacuto's second homer of the season, giving him 22 on his career, one shy of the all-time top-10. He has earned a hit in every game to start the 2002 season, an 11-game hitting streak.

Second baseman Joe Silva finished 2-for-3 on the afternoon. Freshman Jonathan Oller, Christian Campos and Joseph Hendricks each added a single for the Lions. On the mound, Halsey pitched 7.1 innings and allowed only one earned run on five hits while striking out three on his way to the victory. Lion's starter Nicholas Lovato fell victim to a pair of three-run innings by the Horns and incurred the loss, his first of the season.

The Lions will return home to face San Diego State on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 2:00 p.m.

-GO LIONS-