March 27, 2010

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - LMU (11-11) scored six times in the second inning en route to defeating Albany (1-14) by a count of 11-6 on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader being played at LMU's Page Stadium.

The first, second and third batters in the Lion order each collected a hit and two RBI, with Jason Barmasse finishing 1-for-2 with a pair of walks, a home run, two runs scored and the two RBI. Shon Roe went 2-for-3 out of the sixth spot in the order, collecting two runs scored, a home run and a RBI. With a hit apiece on the day, Ryan Hawthorne (11 games) and Nick Devian (nine games) each extended their respective hitting streaks.

Sophomore Ramiro Carreon dealt the first six innings of the game for LMU, earning the victory to improve to 2-2. The right-hander allowed five runs on nine hits and four walks while striking out four batters before Xavier Esquivel pitched a one-run seventh inning to secure the victory. Nolan Gaige took the loss for Albany after pitching only one inning and allowing seven runs on five hits and three walks.

The Great Danes came out swinging in the first, posting three runs on four hits to open the game. A pair of infield singles from Adam Cutspec and Brendan Rowland preceded a line drive to right from Mike Tirri to load the bases. After a foul-out for the second out of the inning, Kyle Crean cleared the bases with a three-RBI triple into right centerfield. For Crean, the triple was his second of the year.

The Lions responded for a run in the bottom of the first as Hawthorne extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a RBI-single back up the middle to bring home Barmasse from second base. Barmasse reached with a one-out walk before moving to second on a wild pitch.

The first seven hitters in the Lion second reached safely en route to scoring six runs on four hits to take a 7-3 advantage after two innings. Devian started the inning with a single up the middle to extend his hitting streak. A bunt single and a walk loaded the bases before an Alex Guthrie single, a Brad Bauer walk, and a Jonathan Johnson single each pushed home runs for the Lions. A bases-loaded wild pitch from reliever Nick Sessa scored the fourth Lion run of the inning before a fielder's choice and a sacrifice fly resulted in the final two runs of the inning.

LMU made it three consecutive frames with at least one run, as Roe did all the damage in the inning. The sophomore shortstop delivered a one-one home run over Mikos Blue Monster in left field on a 2-0 fastball. For Roe, the home run, which extended the Lion lead to 8-3, was his first of the season.

The Great Danes cut the deficit to three runs with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth. Pete Eichner doubled with one out to get the rally started before coming around to score on a double off the wall in left field from Brian Gauthier. Adam Cutspec did more damage on the ensuing play, sending a RBI-single into left field to chase home Gauthier from second base to cap the frame and leave the tally at 8-5.

Refusing to surrender any momentum, LMU plated three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Barmasse. Tirri took it upon himself to make sure the Great Danes got another run in the game, belting a leadoff homer run over the wall in right field to start the seventh. For Tirri, the home run was his second of the year and it ran the tally to its eventual final at 11-6.

The two teams will now play game two of the doubleader.