May 27, 2005

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Los Angeles, Calif. - A four-run second inning gave LMU a lead it would not relinquish in game one of the 2005 West Coast Conference Championship Series over Pepperdine (36-21). Junior Jeff Stevens threw eight strong innings to earn the win and put the Lions (31-25) up one game in the best-of-three series. The televised win marked the Lions' sixth straight, as LMU has now won 15 of their last 17 contests.

Stevens (7-7) and the Lions held Pepperdine to just one run until the seventh, when the Waves loaded the bases and pushed two runs across on three straight singles. But Stevens got Donald Brown to ground into a double play, preventing further damage to preserve the 7-3 LMU lead.

Pepperdine scored first when Patrick Rooney singled up the middle to score Brown, who had doubled earlier in the inning.

But the Lions replied with four of their own with two outs in the bottom of the inning. Freshman Sean Dovel doubled off the Mikos Blue Monster to score Jon Oller and Kyle Mura for the go-ahead runs. Senior Joe Frazee followed with a triple to right center that scored Dovel and Michael Glomb to put the Lions up 4-1.

LMU added a single run in the third when Chris Pettit's groundout to short scored James Cooper to make it 5-1. It looked like the Lions would push a few more across, but a double play ended the inning after the Lions had loaded the bases with just one out.

Pepperdine put two runners on base in the top of the third after a single and a walk, but Stevens rebounded to retire three straight, including striking out designated hitter Taylor Klosowski, to end the inning without allowing a run.

Senior Evan Shahak gave the Lions a 6-1 lead when he sent his fourth home run of the season over the Mikos Blue Monster in the bottom of the fifth.

An Eric Farris groundout in the sixth added another run for the Lions when it allowed Michael Glomb to score from third to make it 7-1.

The Lions' seven runs on 12 hits handed Pepperdine starter Paul Coleman just his second loss of the season. He fell to 9-2 after his 5.2 innings of work.

Stevens went eight innings, allowing just the three runs while striking out five.

Glomb had a perfect 3-for-3 day at the plate, while Frazee and Dovel each knocked in two RBI with their extra base hits in the second inning. Mura went 2-for-3.

The Lions and Waves will continue the best-of-three championship series tomorrow, with first pitch scheduled 2:00 p.m. As with all games this weekend, fans can follow the action on Fox Sports Net West2, the Lions' Audio Network, and Gametracker at www.LMULions.com.

-GO LIONS-