May 10, 2008

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. - LMU (22-27) struck first with two runs in the top of the first inning, but was unable to keep No. 3 Arizona State at bay, as the Sun Devils (39-9) earned a 9-5 victory in game one of a three-game non-conference series being played over the weekend at Packard Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

Sophomore Angelo Songco contributed the big hit for LMU, blasting a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. Songco finished the game 1-for-4 with the home run and three RBI. Freshman Matt Koch collected multiple hits in the loss, batting 2-for-4. Senior Michael Glomb scored two of the Lions' five runs, also collecting a single in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 19 straight games. The streak is the longest by a Lion since Eric Farris hit in 25 straight games from the end of the 2006 season into the beginning of 2007.

Freshman Martin Viramontes pitched the first six innings for LMU, allowing nine runs on 13 hits and three walks while striking out six batters before taking the loss and falling to 3-5. Left-hander Russell Lowell carried the Lions the rest of the way, dealing the final two scoreless frames and allowing one hit and striking out a batter over the span.

Right-hander Mike Leake got the start for ASU, lasting six innings and surrendering three runs (two earned) on six hits and striking out six batters before improving to 8-1 on the year with the victory. Dustin Brader was first out of the Sun Devil bullpen, recording one out and allowing two runs on two walks. Kyle Brule took over and got the second out of the seventh inning before Tommy Rafferty retired the side in the frame. Rafferty finished the game on the hill for ASU, contributing two and a third innings of scoreless relief and striking out two batters. Third baseman Brett Wallace batted 2-for-4 with a home run, a run scored and four RBI to guide the Sun Devil offense.

LMU wasted no time jumping on the No. 3 team in the nation, plating two runs on one swing of Songco's bat. Senior A.J. LaMonda was robbed of a base hit to start the game, lining the first pitch of the game into right field before Matt Newman dove to put it away on the fly. Glomb followed with an infield single to extend his hitting streak, reaching in front of Songco's team-leading 11th home run of the year.

The Sun Devils refused to trail for long, plating three runs on a long-ball of their own in the bottom of the first. A leadoff single and a walk put two runners on before Wallace blasted his team-best 16th home run over the wall down the right field line, handing ASU the 3-2 advantage.

ASU extended the lead to 5-2 after four innings. After a nice play by Glomb at third base for the first out of the frame, Newman and Raoul Torrez connected on back-to-back doubles down the left field line to produce the first run of the fourth. Viramontes recorded his fifth strikeout of the game for out number two, but Torrez swiped third base on the play. After working the count to 2-2 in the very next at bat, Ryan Sontag came up with the clutch two-out RBI-single through the right side of the infield to cap the frame.

Arizona State pushed the tally to 8-2 with three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. With one out in the inning, Petey Paramore doubled and moved to third on an error by Jonathan Johnson at second base. Leake quickly plated the first run of the inning, singling down the right field line, and moving to second on a wild pitch. After a four-pitch walk to Kiel Roling, Newman singled to bring home Leake and leave runners at first and second once again. Torrez reached with an infield single on the ensuing play to load the bases before Viramontes earned an important strikeout for out number two. The freshman right-hander had the first pitch of the next at bat get away for a wild pitch, bringing home Roling from third base. Newman attempted to come home on the same play, running into an out at the plate as Viramontes applied the tag from Dovel.

The Lions got one run back in the top of the sixth inning, piecing together a run on two hits and an error. Koch singled to get the ball rolling before a fielder's choice left Ryan Wheeler at first with one out. After a second fielder's choice put Kyle Spraker at first with two out in the frame, Andy Preston singled to centerfield to leave runners at the corners. LMU took advantage of a Sun Devil error on the ensuing play as Roling dropped a throw from third base, allowing Spraker to trot home safely.

Arizona State once again refused to surrender momentum, plating a run in the bottom half of the inning. A leadoff walk and a successful hit-and-run through the left side put runners on the corners in a hurry for ASU. Wallace took advantage of the opportunity to score a run with a deep fly ball, lifting a sacrifice fly to left centerfield to plate Sontag from third base.

The Lions benefited from the sacrifice fly in the top of the seventh, running the tally to 9-5 with two deep fly balls. Back-to-back walks and a passed ball put runners at second and third with nobody out in the inning. Songco followed with the sacrifice fly to left field, moving Glomb to third base and bringing home LaMonda. Koch followed with a hit-by-pitch to precede the second sacrifice fly of the frame, this one coming to centerfield off the bat of Wheeler to cap the scoring run. Unfortunately for the Lions, the two runs in the seventh would be the final in the game, as both teams posted zeroes over the final two innings of play.

LMU and Arizona State will continue their three-game non-conference series tomorrow at 6 p.m. The Lions will call upon right-hander Xavier Esquivel for the start, while the Sun Devils are still undecided on a starter.