March 19, 2005

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Jeff Stevens pitched 8.2 innings, and allowed just two earned runs to lead the Lions to a 4-3 win over San Diego in West Coast Conference action this afternoon. A.J. LaMonda's two RBI single in the bottom of the eighth gave the Lions the lead, and Stevens and Andy Beal finished off the game. The win keeps the Lions undefeated in WCC action at 2-0, and they improve to 7-12 overall. San Diego falls to 16-13-1, 2-3 in the WCC.

LMU took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first. Chris Pettit led off the inning with a double to left center, and came home when Evan Shahak followed him with a single up the middle.

The Toreros answered in the fourth. With one out, Jordan Abruzzo hit a solo home run to right field to tie the game. Shane Bruschini followed with a walk and advanced to second on Ryan Lilly's single. Both runners advanced on a wild pitch, and Bruschini scored on a sacrifice fly to give USD a 2-1 lead.

San Diego made it a 3-1 game in the top of the fifth when they took advantage of sloppy LMU fielding and scored an unearned run. The Lions responded by making it a one run game again in the bottom of the inning. Brandon DiTolla led off with a single and advanced to third on Sean Dovel's single through the right side of the infield. Joe Frazee's deep sacrifice fly to left field cut the USD lead to 3-2.

The Lions had several chances to tie the game, but came through in the bottom of the eighth. Kyle Mura and Pettit started the inning with back to back singles. Both runners advanced on Shahak's sacrifice bunt. With first base open, the Toreros intentionally walked pinch hitter Matt White to get to LaMonda. He made them pay for that decision by smacking a two-RBI single off the right field wall to give the Lions a 4-3 lead.

Stevens was one out away from a complete game, exiting the contest with two outs in the top of the ninth. Relief pitcher Beal walked the first batter that he faced, Matthew Weston, but Dovel threw out pinch runner Gavin Ng when he attempted to steal second. White made an outstanding running catch in foul territory to end the game and give Beal the save.

Stevens allowed seven hits and two earned runs in 8.2 innings of work- his longest outing of the season. He struck out five batters and allowed just two walks.

Matthew Falk suffered the loss for USD. He allowed two earned runs, two walks and three hits in 1.0 innings. Starter Nate Boman pitched just three innings for the Toreros, striking out six and allowing one run on three hits.

Pettit and Dovel each had two hits for the Lions, and LaMonda led the team with two RBI. Logan Gelbrich was the only player from USD with multiple hits.

The Lions look for the series sweep when they conclude the three game series with the Toreros on Sunday, Mar. 20th at 1:00pm at Page Stadium.

- GO LIONS! -