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May 27, 2004

Briefly...
WCC Coast Division champion LMU completes its WCC regular season with its best conference record under Head Coach Frank Cruz and enters this weekend's WCC Championship Series on a six-game winning streak. The Lions take on West Division champion Pepperdine in the best-of-three series, beginning with Friday's 3:00 p.m. start. All games will be played at LMU's Page Stadium.

Top WCC Finish...
Despite the Gonzaga rain out last weekend, LMU concludes its WCC regular season with the best record in Head Coach Frank Cruz' eight seasons with the program. The previous best, set by the 2000 squad, was 22-8, good for a .733 winning percentage. This season, the Lions finish at 20-7, giving them a .741 percentage, a program-best conference mark against the current WCC institutions.

ERA Games...
The Lions' rotation of Stephen Kahn, Will Quaglieri, and Jeff Stevens all enter this weekend's series with identical ERAs of 3.88 in WCC play.

LMU Ends Regular Schedule On Season-High Note...
Nine Lions combined for a season-high 18 hits as Loyola Marymount baseball defeated Cal State Northridge 13-6 at Matador Field for its sixth straight win. The contest marked the final regular season mid-week match-up for both squads. The Lions improved to 32-20-1, while CSUN fell to 16-38. Reigning WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week Will Quaglieri, getting his first Tuesday start since his first win of the season over then-No. 13 Cal State Fullerton on February 24, retired the side in the first two innings. Joe Frazee made it a 6-0 game when his single to center scored Brady Koch, who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the inning. Koch returned to the plate in the fifth to follow three consecutive LMU singles with a grand slam, scoring Pettit, LaMonda, and Oller for the 10-0 lead. The shot over the 325 mark on the left field wall was Koch's second of the season. It was the senior's first career grand slam. Quaglieri threw five shutout innings, allowing just three hits and striking out three, before giving way to junior Gabriel Bueno out of the Lions' bullpen. Jamie Mah came on to pitch the ninth, making his first career appearance after redshirting his true freshman season in 2003 for the Lions. He allowed two runs on one hit, but secured the 13-6 win for LMU. Quaglieri earned the win for LMU, improving to 5-6 on the season. Rocchio fell to 1-4 for CSUN. Higashi and Koch led the Lions at the plate, each putting up 3-for-4 performances and combining for six RBI.

Quaglieri Named WCC Pitcher of the Week...
Putting up one of the strongest performances of his career when LMU needed it most, Will Quaglieri led the Lions to the victory that clinched the WCC Coast Division title on Monday, May 10. On May 17, the conference rewarded the Lions' senior with his second WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week honors of the season. Quaglieri pitched the Lions to their 20th conference victory, clinching LMU's first division title since the 2000 season in the process. He tossed his team-high third complete game of the season against Saint Mary's, surrendering just three runs on eight hits while striking out a career-high 10 batters. The Reno, Nev., native struck out the side with runners on second and third in the bottom of the sixth, preserving a 5-3 Lion lead. Quaglieri was also tabbed for WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week honors on March 1, and earned the conference's first Pitcher of the Month recognition of the 2004 season for his February efforts.

Mr. Tuesday...
Brady Koch has gone off in his last three Tuesday games. The senior backup catcher and DH has hit 9-for-12 including his first career grand slam over the three games- two against CSUN and one against USC.

LMU Clinches Division Title...
LMU clinched the WCC's Coast Division title with the 10-3 win over Saint Mary's at Louis Guisto Field in Moraga. The Lions used a career-best outing from starter Will Quaglieri and 16 hits to ensure a WCC Championship series at Page Stadium Memorial Day weekend. Quaglieri threw his third complete game of the season, allowing just eight hits and striking out a career-high 10 batters. His performance earned him his second WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week selection of the season. Billy Lockin, Jonathan Higashi, and James Cooper each had 3-for-5 outings at the plate, with Lockin chipping in a team-high four RBI to lead LMU offensively at Saint Mary's. The second sweep of Saint Mary's in 2004 ensured LMU the best WCC record in the Coast Division, as the Lions currently sit at 20-7 in conference play. The 2004 WCC Baseball Championship series returns to LMU's George C. Page Stadium May 28-30 for the third time in six seasons and will feature LMU and the winner of the WCC's West Division in a best-of-three series. The championship series will determine the conference's automatic bid to the 2004 NCAA Division I Baseball Championship. The WCC Championship, hosted by the winner of the regular season head-to-head series between the two division champions, returns to the Los Angeles area for the sixth time in six seasons. LMU last hosted the WCC Championships in 2000, when the Lions won the WCC title and earned the conference's automatic bid to the NCAA Baseball Championships for the third straight season. Game one of the best-of-three series will begin Friday, May 28 at 3:00 p.m. Games two and three (if necessary) will be played Saturday and Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

Kahn Invited to USA Baseball National Team Tryouts...
Stephen Kahn is among a list of 19 collegiate players that USA Baseball has invited to participate in the 2004 USA Baseball National Team Trials to be held June 20-26 in Durham, North Carolina. Kahn, a sophomore right-handed pitcher, has been a crucial part of the conference-leading Lions' success this season. The USA Baseball National Team will be selected from a pool of 36 players, of which an additional 17 have yet to be named. The official 18-man team roster will be finalized and announced on June 27. LMU Head Coach Frank Cruz was selected to lead the 2004 USA Baseball National Team this summer, which will open play on Wednesday evening, June 23, at Durham Bulls Athletic Park at 7:00 p.m. against Canada. Team USA will play an additional seven games in Durham, along with several other domestic exhibition games prior to representing the United States at 2004 II FISU World University Baseball Championships in Chinese Taipei, July 23-August 1. Kahn currently has the WCC's best ERA, and ranks second in the conference in victories and opponents' batting average, and fourth in strikeouts. Selected as the WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week twice this season, Kahn threw a complete game shutout of Saint Mary's on April 3, allowing just six hits, while striking out ten and walking two. Kahn becomes the second LMU player in six years to receive the invitation to the national team trials. Michael Schultz (1998-2000) participated in the 1999 trials en route to becoming a second round draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 2000 Major League Baseball Draft. In addition, Cruz continues his involvement with the USA Baseball National Team this summer as head coach, after serving as an assistant coach in 2000.

WCC Pitcher of the Month Honors Return to LMU...
Kahn was named WCC Pitcher of the Month, the conference announced on May 4. Kahn went 4-1 with a complete game shutout during April, leading LMU to the conference's best record. Kahn threw 37.1 innings, allowing just 38 hits and 11 earned runs in five appearances. The sophomore struck out 25 en route to an ERA of 2.65 for the month. He averaged 7.42 innings pitched per appearance, throwing at least 8.0 innings in three of five appearances. The right-hander finished the month with the WCC's best ERA, and ranked second in the conference in victories and opponents' batting average, and fourth in strikeouts. Kahn earned WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week honors after throwing a complete game shutout against Saint Mary's in early April, leading LMU to its fourth WCC series victory. He went the distance allowing just six hits, while striking out ten batters and only walking two. performance. Kahn then threw eight innings of scoreless baseball on Friday, April 16, at Santa Clara to lead the Lions to the 8-0 first game win. He allowed just three hits, while striking out six and walking one. Kahn, who shares this month's honor with San Diego's Kyle Collins, will represent the WCC at the USA Baseball National Team tryouts in June. The Player of the Month selection is the second of the season for the LMU pitching staff, as Will Quaglieri took home the WCC's first monthly selection in February, making LMU the only WCC school to receive the Pitcher of the Month honor twice.

Two-Timer...
Clint McGill earned his second WCC Player of the Week recognition of the season last week after he went 8-for-17 (.471) at the plate, including a 3-for-5, two RBI performance in the opening game of the Pepperdine series, where he also picked up the save. McGill chipped in four RBI, one run scored, four doubles, and one stolen base on the week. With the second weekly honor, McGill became the only player in the WCC to have been named the conference's Player of the Week twice this season.

Grand Finish to Crucial Series...
Jonathan Oller hit a go-ahead grand slam in the sixth inning to give LMU the lead for good, as LMU took the West Coast Conference series' deciding game 12-6 Sunday afternoon at Page Stadium. With the win, the Lions earned the right to host the WCC Championships should LMU and Pepperdine hang on to win their respective divisions. The Lions were led by Oller, who finished the day 2-for-4 with six RBI and one run scored. Frazee added a 2-for-4 effort at the plate with one RBI and two runs scored, while LaMonda went 2-for-3 and crossed the plate twice.

Complete Game Shutout Earns Stevens WCC Pitcher of the Week Selection...
Jeff Stevens is the WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week after throwing a complete game shutout and recording a save against USF. Stevens went the distance in the deciding game against USF to clinch the WCC series win over the Dons. The sophomore allowed just seven hits, all singles, while striking out five, improving his season record to 4-0. It was his first career complete game. Stevens pitched his way out of a tough jam in the third, as USF had runners on second and third with no outs. The Moraga, Calif., native struck out both Andrew Smith and Craig Click before getting Armand Gaerlan to fly out to end the inning. Stevens also recorded his fourth save of the season on Friday in game one against USF. He entered to pitch the ninth inning and did not allow a hit as he preserved LMU's 6-3 win.The nine inning effort marks the third complete game for the Lions' pitching staff this season, as Stephen Kahn and Will Quaglieri posted complete game performances of their own. Sunday's shutout is the second complete game shutout in four weeks for LMU, as Kahn's complete game was a shutout of Saint Mary's on April 2. This week's WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week selection is Stevens' first career conference selection. It is the fourth weekly conference honor for the LMU pitching staff.

8-Run Sixth Lifts Lions To Series Win Over Santa Clara...
The Lions put together an eight-run sixth inning for the 12-7 come-from-behind win in the WCC series' deciding game at Santa Clara's Buck Shaw Stadium. A.J. LaMonda put up five RBI, including his first career homerun, and Clint McGill and Anthony Santana each had huge doubles in the breakthrough sixth inning for the Lions. The Lions scored 11 of their 12 runs in their final four innings, while also getting a strong performance from the pitching staff. Starter Jeff Stevens and Kevin Jenson combined for eight strikeouts, and held the Broncos scoreless for their final four innings. LMU posted its second-best scoring inning of the season in the top of the sixth, as McGill started things off by drawing the walk from Redmond. Oller then singled through the left side to advance McGill to second. A Redmond balk sent McGill to third and Oller to third and LaMonda's RBI single up the middle forced the Broncos to turn to Thomas Van Buskirk out of the bullpen. Van Buskirk walked his first batter in Pettit, before allowing the hit that would break open the game for the Lions. Santana, who had entered for Anthony Soto, took advantage of the opportunity, hitting a three-RBI double to rightcenter field. Frazee later walked and Higashi loaded the bases with his single to right field. Cooper brought in a run when he was hit by Van Buskirk and the Lions had batted through the order. McGill returned to the plate and put up the go-ahead two-RBI double to rightcenter to score Frazee and Higashi for the 8-7 advantage. Santa Clara then went to Scott Lonergan on the mound, and he entered to face Oller, whose sacrifice fly to center field scored Cooper for the 9-7 LMU lead. The Lions added three more in the eighth when LaMonda hit a three-run homerun over the wall in rightcenter field. It was the freshman's first career homerun.

Higashi Named LMU's 2004 Student-Athlete of the Year...
Jonathan Higashi was named the 2004 LMU Student-Athlete of the Year during the annual Student Service and Leadership Awards Convocation. The award, presented by Student Affairs, is given to a male and female student-athlete based on athletic accomplishments, academic accomplishments and leadership and community service. Higashi becomes the first baseball player to earn the award in the 25-plus seasons it has been presented to LMU student-athletes.

Best WCC Start in 15 Seasons...
After beginning West Coast Conference action with a record of 10-2, LMUposted its best league start in fifteen seasons. The Lions won each of four WCC three-game series to start the conference season, and entered interdivision play atop the Coast Division. The 10-2 start and series streak is a program best since 1989. That year, Head Coach Chris Smith's squad went 39-24-1 and 18-5 in WCC play en route to an NCAA tournament appearance in the West Regional. Assigned to the Tucson, Arizona site in the West Regional, the 1989 Lions defeated Eastern Kentucky and Oklahoma before falling to host Arizona. Since then, LMU baseball has gone on to win four WCC championships, including three consecutive titles in 1998, 1999, and 2000.

Complete Game Shutout Leads to Honors for Kahn...
Loyola Marymount's Stephen Kahn has been selected as the WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week, the West Coast Conference announced today. Kahn threw a complete game shutout on Saturday, leading LMU to its 2-0 win over WCC opponent Saint Mary's. Kahn went the distance allowing just six hits, while striking out ten batters and walking only two. The 2-0 win over Saint Mary's moves the sophomore's record to 4-1 and helped lead division-leading LMU claim its fourth of four WCC series. Kahn's performance on Saturday marks the second complete game this season for the LMU pitching staff. Senior Will Quaglieri threw a complete game against then-No. 11 Baylor on February 15, 2004. The last LMU complete game shutout was junior Kyle Huddy's 9-0 shutout of UCLA on March 4, 2003. This week's WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week selection is Kahn's second of the 2004 season, as he also garnered the honors on February 23. It is LMU's fifth weekly conference selection, including the third for the pitching staff.

Good Run at Page...
After holding off New Mexico State at home, the Lions put together an impressive home streak to start the season. Dating back to the end of last season, the Lions had not lost at home since falling to San Francisco on May 11, 2003. This season, LMU posted the 5-4 Opening Day win over UC Riverside to kick off the home season. The Lions continued the success at home, with UCLA (7-3), New Mexico State (2-1), then-No. 13 Cal State Fullerton (3-2), San Diego (5-4, 10-4, 9-8), and New Mexico State (8-5, 8-8).

Lockin Earns WCC/Rawlings Player of the Week Honors...
Billy Lockin was named the WCC/Rawlings Player of the Week, the conference announced on March 9. Lockin led the Lions to four victories, including a three-game sweep of San Diego in WCC play. The Lions' senior went 9-for-17 (.529) with seven runs scored, two doubles, and three RBI as LMU defeated Fresno State and then took three from the two-time defending WCC Champion San Diego. Friday's conference opener saw Lockin's two-out, two-run double regain the 4-3 lead for the Lions in the bottom of the sixth inning against the Toreros. In Saturday's 10-4 win, Lockin went 3-for-4 with an RBI and four runs scored. He also swiped a base as the Lions improved to 10-4 and took an early lead in the WCC Coast Division. The Thousand Oaks, Calif., native is LMU baseball's fourth WCC selection in as many weeks.

Quaglieri Named WCC Pitcher of the Month...
Will Quaglieri has been selected as the WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Month for February, the conference announced on March 2. Quaglieri earned the conference's first monthly honor after dominating opposing batters in four appearances during the month. The senior made three starts for the Lions and was extremely effective, holding then-#11 ranked Baylor to one run through seven innings and suffering the tough-luck loss. In Quaglieri's next start, he surrendered only one run through five innings of work and struck out eight batters, but did not figure in the decision as LMU defeated then-#13 ranked Cal State Fullerton on February 24. Quaglieri recorded his first victory of the season on February 29, when he tossed seven innings of shutout ball against San Jose State in an 11-0 Lion victory. The right-hander was dominant in each of his appearances, striking out 21 batters in 19 innings pitched and surrendering only two earned runs. The Reno, Nev., native posted a 0.95 earned run average and held opposing lineups to a .217 batting average.

Quaglieri Makes it Back-to-Back WCC Pitcher of the Week Selections for LMU...
LMU's Will Quaglieri was named the WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week after leading the Lions over then-No. 13 Cal State Fullerton and San Jose State. The selection marks the second straight WCC Pitcher of the Week selection for the Lions and the third conference award in three weeks. Quaglieri has allowed just two earned runs in 19 innings of work, 11 of which were against top-15 teams this season. The senior right-handed pitcher has struck out 21 batters, while walking just four. In his first start as a Lion against then-No. 11 Baylor, Quaglieri struck out five and allowed just one run on three hits in the complete game effort. Against then-No. 13 Cal State Fullerton, the Reno, Nevada, native fanned eight in five innings without a walk. Last weekend, Quaglieri threw seven scoreless innings against San Jose State and struck out seven en route to his first and LMU's second WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week selection. Quaglieri's selection is the third conference accolade in three weeks for the Lions. LMU's Stephen Kahn earned WCC Pitcher of the Week honors last week, while Clint McGill earned Player of the Week honors after the first week of play.

Inside-the-Park Homerun Keys Win Over #13 CS Fullerton...
LMU baseball came back to defeat No.13 Cal State Fullerton 3-2 in a thriller at Page Stadium. Brady Koch hit a two-out two-run inside-the-park-homerun in the seventh to help LMU win their third straight game. LMU (5-2) trailed Cal State Fullerton (6-7) 2-1 going to the bottom of the seventh inning when freshmen A.J. LaMonda singled with one out. He was still on first with two out when Koch came to the plate and began a long battle with Titan pitcher Scott Sarver. Koch was given a second chance when first baseman Brett Pill misplayed a foul pop at first base, and he hammered the next pitched he saw to center field. Titan center fielder Danny Dorn froze and then leaped to make the catch, but had the line drive sail over his head and roll all the way to the wall scoring LaMonda with the tying run and eventually Koch with the winning run. Junior reliever Gabriel Bueno (1-0) who had come on in the seventh pitched a perfect eighth before giving way to Jeff Stevens who notched his second save in as many chances. For Bueno, it was his first win as a Lion. LMU's bullpen allowed just one run over the final four innings while striking out five. Will Quaglieri got the start for LMU as was impressive going five innings allowing just one run and scattering seven hits. Quaglieri used an assortment of breaking balls to get out of three tough jams and to strikeout eight batters. He was locked in a pitchers' duel with Lauren Gagnier through five. Trailing 1-0 in the fifth the Lions got on the board and tied the game when Clint McGill scored on a perfectly executed hit and run play as LaMonda doubled down the line in left. Cal State Fullerton immediately took the lead again in the top of the sixth when left fielder Sergio Pedroza led off with a homerun to center. That's where the game stood until Koch's deciding blow in the seventh.

Kahn Named WCC/Rawlings Pitcher of the Week...
Stephen Kahn has been selected as the WCC's Pitcher of the Week, the conference announced on Monday. Kahn led the Lions to a 2-1 win over New Mexico State on Saturday, moving his record to 2-0 on the season. Kahn battled the rain for six innings, allowing just one unearned run on two hits in the Lions' 2-1 victory. The Anaheim, Calif., native added ten strikeouts against New Mexico State, who entered the series with LMU leading the nation in runs scored. In his first victory of the season, the sophomore right-handed pitcher struckout six batters in five innings, leading LMU to the 8-7 win over No. 11 Baylor. Kahn's selection is the second conference accolade in two weeks for the Lions. LMU's Clint McGill earned WCC Player of the Week honors last week.

Skipper Cruz's To 200...
With the Lions' win over UCLA, LMU Head Coach Frank Cruz tallied his 200th career victory. Cruz, in his eighth season with the Lions, became the second LMU coach to reach the milestone.

McGill Earns Honors...
Clint McGill has been selected as 2004's first West Coast Conference/Rawlings Player of the Week, the conference announced today. McGill started all four games at second base for LMU, including victories over No. 11 Baylor and preseason-No. 39 UC Riverside. The senior transfer from Texas Tech led the Lions, hitting .385 (5-for-13) with one RBI as the Lions went 2-2 on the week. McGill added six putouts and five assists at second base. An infielder throughout his career, the LMU coaching staff tried McGill on the mound in the fall and the results paid off early for the Lions. In his career pitching debut, McGill earned two saves in as many attempts in the Lions' first two games. The Fresno, Calif., native struckout two in his combined two innings of work and held Baylor hitless in the ninth.

Lions Defeat No.11 Baylor...
LMU earned an 8-7 victory over No. 11 ranked Baylor at Baylor Ballpark. Senior Clint McGill recorded his second save in as many opportunities to secure the win. McGill moved from second base to the pitcher's mound in the ninth and retired the Bears in order. The Lions got the scoring underway in the first inning when, with two outs, Jonathan Higashi walked and then scored on a double to right off the bat of Jonathan Oller. Oller was then brought home immediately when James Cooper singled to left. This set the tone for LMU as they would go on to score six of their eight runs on the night with two outs. Baylor scored in the bottom of the inning and then took the lead in the bottom of the second when second baseman Drew Sutton hit a two run triple to right to make the score 3-2. The Lions would take the lead for good in the fifth when they scored two runs, both coming on a throwing error by third baseman Michael Griffin. LMU tacked on two more in the sixth when again with two out, the Lions began a rally. After Jonathan Higashi and Jonathan Oller drew two out walks James Cooper drove them in with a double to right. Cooper finished the contest going 2-for-4 with three RBI's and a run scored. That was all the run support Stephen Kahn (1-0) would need to gain his first win of the season. Kahn worked five innings allowing just two hits and two earned runs. After throwing one hundred pitches, Kahn gave way to the bullpen of Erik Reyes, Jeff Stevens, and eventually McGill. Baylor rallied in the seventh to score four runs, but Stevens held the tying run standing on third base in both the seventh and eighth innings.

Noted in Baseball America...
Several Lions were listed among the WCC's "Players to Watch" in Baseball America's 2004 conference preview. Seniors Jon Higashi and Billy Lockin were selected to the preseason all-conference team as a catcher and shortstop, respectively. RHPs Steve Kahn and Kyle Huddy were listed as the conference's No. 3 and No. 5 draft prospects. Kahn went 5-4 with 55 strikeouts in 47 innings of work in 2003. Huddy struck out 84 in his 90 innings, while finishing with a 5-6 record. In the "Best Tools" categories, Lockin was named the WCC's best baserunner. Higashi took home the titles of best defensive catcher and catcher with the best arm, while Kahn has the conference's best fastball, according to Baseball America.

Lions Tabbed to Finish 4th...
WCC coaches have selected LMU to finish fourth in 2004, the conference announced in the annual preseason poll. The Lions finished the 2003 season in sixth place with a 26-30 overall and 13-17 conference record. LMU earned 33 votes in the preseason poll, good for the fourth place prediction. Pepperdine was picked to win the conference title in 2004, after garnering 49 votes. The conference splits its eight teams into two divisions, with the Lions playing in the Coast division. LMU is listed in second in its division, behind San Diego's 39 votes. "The poll is probably accurate for a preseason prediction," Cruz said. "The conference is even stronger this season than it has been in the past few years. We are fortunate to be predicted in the fourth spot, but once the ference season opens, anything can happen."

USA Baseball Names Cruz 2004 National Team Head Coach...
USA Baseball announced that LMU's Frank Cruz will serve as head coach of the 2004 USA Baseball National Team that will represent the United States at the 2004 FISU World University Baseball Championships in Chinese Taipei, July 22-31. "Coach Cruz has been an integral part of our coaching staff in the past as an assistant, and we're very fortunate to be able to welcome him back as our head coach for the upcoming summer," said Steve Cohen, USA Baseball Director of National Teams. "Frank is highly respected in the collegiate coaching community and we appreciate him making this commitment again to USA Baseball." This will be Cruz's second tour of duty with USA Baseball, but his first as a head coach. Cruz served as an assistant on the 2000 USA Baseball National Team that posted an overall record of 27-3-1, and captured a gold medal at the 2000 Haarlem Baseball Week Championships in The Netherlands. He becomes the first-ever USA Baseball National Team Head Coach to be affiliated with the WCC. "I am extremely humbled to be able to work with the finest athletes in the country," said Cruz. "Working for USA Baseball is a tremendous opportunity and a great honor. I look forward to being a part of a gold medal-winning team in the world championships and wearing the USA uniform."