Feb. 3, 2006

Box Score

Tuoson, Ariz. - The Lions led by as many as three early in the game, but it was No. 31 Arizona who came away with the Opening Day win as the Wildcats (1-0) topped LMU (0-1) 10-5 in front of over 2,200 fans in Tucson, Ariz. The two teams will continue the three-game series Saturday at Kindall Field.

By the end of the third inning, LMU had built a 5-2 lead. Senior Kyle Mura got the scoring started in the first with a double to center. He scored on a shot to shortstop by fellow senior Chris Pettit.

The Lions added four in the third after loading the bases with no outs. Senior transfer Erik Johnson singled up the middle to score Glomb. Eric Farris followed with an infield single that brought in DeAndre Miller. A.J. LaMonda's groundout to second scored Mura. Sean Dovel gave the Lions the 5-1 lead when his single through the right side scored Johnson.

Arizona reduced the lead by one when Brad Boyer put up a leadoff triple and later scored on a groundout to short.

But the Wildcats' big lift came in the bottom of the fourth, when UA put up the game's second four-spot. Arizona used three hits and two errors to take the 6-5 lead.

The LMU offense was quiet after the third, but the Wildcats put up one more in the seventh and three in the eighth.

The Lions totaled four hits on the evening, all in the first three innings. Mura, Johnson, Farris, and Dovel notched the Opening Day hits for LMU.

Sophomore Brad Meyers (0-1) made the start for the Lions and threw five innings, allowing three earned runs on six hits. Fellow sophomore Andy Beal came on in relief to face seven batters, striking out four. Ezequiel Ruvalcaba, Melvin Blackmon, and Nathan Keadle followed in relief.

Konrad Schmidt led the Wildcats at the plate with a 2-for-4 effort.

UA starter Eric Berger picked up the win after allowing one earned run in five innings of work. Daniel Schlereth came on in relief and earned the save after throwing the final four.

The 2,205 attendance figure was the second-highest drawing match-up at Kindall field since 2004. Only the Arizona-Texas series drew more fans last season in Tucson.

The Lions and 31st-ranked Wildcats will continue the three-game series with game two on Saturday. First pitch is slated for 12:00 p.m. Pacific time, with LMU's Daniel Macias facing UA starter Mike Colla. Fans can follow all of the action on Lions' All-Access at www.LMULions.com. A link to UA's subscription-based webcast (video) will also be available at www.LMULions.com.

-GO LIONS-