April 24, 2005
Box Score
San Francisco, Calif. - San Francisco scored in every inning but the third, as they chipped away at a 5-3 LMU lead to take game three from the Lions 8-5 in West Coast Conference action in San Francisco. The Lions fall to 16-23 and 7-10 in WCC play, while San Francisco improves to 30-12 and 14-4 to lead the Coast Division.
A four-run fifth inning gave the Lions a 5-3 lead after five singles off USF starter Scott Cousins. Freshman Sean Dovel and Michael Glomb were the first two baserunners of the inning for the Lions, each singling with one out to get things going. With two outs, Joe Frazee's single scored Dovel just before Chris Pettit was hit by a pitch to load the bases.
James Cooper then put up a two-run single to first that allowed Frazee and Glomb to score. Designated hitter Evan Shahak made it 5-3, driving in Pettit with the fifth single of the inning.
But San Francisco battled back, tying the game at five in the bottom of the sixth after adding a run in the fifth and the sixth. In the fifth, Luke Sommer's double scored Daniel Morales from first. Jonnie Knoble's single then brought in Lucas Delong, who had doubled to leadoff the sixth.
The Dons took a 7-5 lead when Morales connected for a double that brought in Tavo Hall and Royce Fukuroku. Andy Beal took the mound for the Lions and got the first two outs of the inning when he struck out Sommer and Jacon Abramson. Later with two outs and the bases loaded, LMU right fielder James Cooper made a huge diving catch just inside the 321 mark in the corner to get the Lions out of the inning without further damage.
San Francisco extended the lead to three when Fukuroku's sacrifice fly to right scored Knoble from third to make it the final 8-5.
Earlier in the game, a two-out rally sparked by Pettit's double started a string of three straight baserunners for the Lions in the top of the fourth. The rally cut USF's two-run lead in half when Cooper's blooper that dropped in center field scored Pettit from second.
San Francisco added a run in bottom of the fourth when four walks by LMU starter Kyle Huddy brought in Morales.
The Dons had pushed two across earlier in the game- one on a home run by Jacon Abramson and one when Jonnie Knoble scored on a wild pitch by Huddy.
Cousins improved to 8-2 after allowing five runs on nine hits over 8.1 innings of work.
Daniel Macias (0-2) suffered the loss, as he was charged with the four runs in his two innings. Huddy allowed three hits in four innings with four strikeouts.
Cooper led the Lions offensively with a 2-for-4, three RBI outing. Shahak and Dovel each went 2-for-3.
The Lions will return to Los Angeles, but continue the seven-game road swing when they visit crosstown foe USC Tuesday evening. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m.
-GO LIONS-
