March 16, 2010

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - LMU (5-10) broke a 4-4 tie with two runs in the eighth inning en route to earning a 6-4 victory over Long Beach State (7-8) on Tuesday at LMU's Page Stadium. The Lions trailed 4-1 headed into the bottom of the fifth, but scored five runs over the next four frames.

Freshman Colton Plaia led the Lions offensively, finishing 3-for-4 with a home run, a double, two runs scored and two RBI. For Plaia, the home run was his second of the season. Nick Devian contributed a two-out two-RBI double to give LMU the lead in the eighth, while Jason Barmasse also drove in a pair in the win. With a hit apiece on Tuesday, Matt Koch and Ryan Hawthorne each extended their hitting streaks to four games.

Sophomore Alex Gillingham continued to pitch well to start the 2010 season, tossing seven and a third innings and allowing four runs on eight hits and one intentional walk while striking out eight batters. He did not factor in the decision after leaving the ballgame with the score tied at four. Junior Chris Eusebio dealt an inning and two-thirds, including inducing a double-play ball to end the eighth, en route to recording his second win of the season. The native of Walnut, Calif. allowed just one hit in the stellar relief outing.

Nate Underwood got the start for Long Beach State, lasting five innings and allowing three runs on five hits and two walks before not factoring in the decision. Troy Watson, who took the first loss of his season, pitched two and two-thirds, surrendering two runs on two hits before Cris Trout allowed a run on two hits en route to recording the final out of the eighth. TJ Mittelstaedt finished 2-for-4 as the lone Dirtbag with multiple hits. The left-handed batter also recorded a run scored. Joey Terdoslavich, Brennan Metzger and Tre Dennis each doubled-home runs for Long Beach State.

Long Beach State scored first in the game, plating a pair of two-out runs in the top of the first inning. Mittelstaedt singled up the middle with one out before stealing a base and scoring on a Terdoslavich double to deep right centerfield. Steve Tinoco wasted no time extending the lead to 2-0 with a single back up the box to chase home Terdoslavich.

LMU collected its first hit and run in the fourth inning as Hawthorne grounded a one-out single through the right side to get the ball rolling. After Koch flew out for the second out of the inning, Plaia connected for a two-out RBI-double into left centerfield to put the Lions on the board.

The Dirtbags answered right back with two runs in the top of the fifth. Juan Avila singled with one out before coming around to score on Dennis' double that sliced into left centerfield. Metzger followed with a second two-out RBI-double, lining a ball past Devian in left field and to the wall.

The Lions cut the deficit to one run at 4-3 after five innings, scoring twice in the home-half of the fifth. Shon Roe led off with a single before a one-out walk put runners at first and second. Jonathan Johnson reached on a beautiful bunt single to load the bases on the ensuing play, setting the table for a two-RBI single off the bat of Barmasse. Unfortunately for the Lions, Johnson tripped and got hung up between second and third base on the play, resulting in the second out of the inning. Underwood got out of the frame on the next pitch, inducing a fly ball off the bat of Hawthorne to centerfield.

Plaia continued his solid day at the plate in the sixth inning, belting his second home run of the season over the wall in left centerfield to knot the tally at four runs apiece after six.

The Lions broke the 4-4 tie with a pair of two-out runs on one clutch swing of the bat from Devian. Koch singled on a 3-0 pitch to start the rally before moving to second base on Plaia's third hit of the day, a single into left centerfield. Devian came up clutch on the very next pitch, doubling off Mikos Blue Monster in left field to push home both runners.

Eusebio contributed a scoreless ninth inning to ensure his own victory as LMU held on to defeat Long Beach State, 6-4.

The Lions return to action on Friday when they open a four-game series with Fresno State at 6:05 p.m. in Fresno, Calif.