April 29, 2010
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -
Complete Release in PDF Format 
BRIEFLY...
After picking-up its first West Coast Conference victory of the year last Sunday, LMU (17-21, 1-8) will look to start climbing in the WCC standings when it hosts Saint Mary's (14-20-1, 5-4) for a three-game series over the weekend. Friday's game is slated for 3 p.m., while Saturday and Sunday will both be played at 1 p.m.
YOU CAN'T RAIN ON MY PARADE...
The doubleheader between LMU and UC Riverside, originally scheduled for February 27 in Riverside, Calif., was rained out as Southern California took a powerful hit from Mother Nature. The Lions traveled to Riverside on April 21 to try to make up one of the two games, but that game was also postponed due to inclement weather. The game will continue, with the Lions leading 7-0 after three innings, on May 12 prior to the regularly-scheduled 6 p.m. make-up game in Riverside. The April 20 rain-out at home versus Cal State Bakersfield has also been rescheduled, as the two teams will now meet on May 26 at 3 p.m.
LION TRACKS...
The LMU baseball team surrendered multiple runs in each inning from the second through the fifth as the Lions (17-21) fell 13-3 to Cal State Bakersfield (18-20) on Tuesday in a midweek game played at CSUB's Hardt Field. The Lions managed just one run on five hits over the first eight innings of play en route to finishing with three runs on eight hits. Nick Devian proved to be the lone bright spot offensively for LMU, finishing 3-for-4 with a RBI and a double. Devian has now collected multiple hits in back-to-back games, and is 5-for-8 with two runs scored, a double, a home run and two RBI over those two contests. Sophomore Evan Simonitsch contributed the only other RBI for LMU, collecting a sacrifice fly. Jason Wheeler got the start and took the loss after tossing two and a third innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits and a walk. Freshman Alex Sachs lasted just two-thirds of a frame, surrendering five runs on as many hits before giving way to Aaron Griffin. The right-hander allowed the final two Roadrunner runs in two innings of work. Matt Florer, Alex Gillingham and Chris Eusebio all dealt scoreless innings in relief to finish the game on the hill for LMU. Martin Medina, Kevin Younger and Joey Mills each collected three hits in the victory for Bakersfield, with Mills doubling twice. The Roadrunners finished with 19 total hits, including home runs from Jeremy Rodriguez and Kyle Richardson. Medina got the start on a staff day for Bakersfield, earning the win by tossing three scoreless frames. Jonathan Montoya took over in the fourth inning and pitched five and a third innings, allowing all three Lion runs on six hits and three walks before Spenser Messmore recorded the final two outs of the game.
TALK ABOUT A TOUGH OUT...
Sophomore Ryan Hawthorne entered last week ranked fourth in the nation in toughest to strikeout, averaging one strikeout per every 40.7 at bats. The native of Granada Hills, Calif. has now struck out just four times in 139 at bats this year, breaking down to once every 34.75 at bats.
HAWTHORNE IS A SERIAL STREAKER...
Sophomore Ryan Hawthorne had his team-best 19-game hitting streak snapped after a 0-for-4 day on April 13 at Long Beach State. Hawthorne batted .390 (30-for-70) with 10 runs scored, six doubles, a home run, six walks and 13 RBI over his 19-game streak. He collected multiple hits in nine of the 19 games, including three straight from March 19-20, and then again from March 28-31. Despite not recording a hit on March 7 and April 13, Hawthorne did reach in both games via a walk, and has thus reached base safely in 30 straight games dating back to March 5 through this weekend. He has hit safely in 25 of his last 27 games. No stranger to hitting streaks, Hawthorne hit safely in 16 games last year from March 27-April 1.
SO MUCH FOR A POWER OUTAGE...
LMU hit 42 home runs in 2009, and of those 42, just eight came from the bats of players who are still on the roster in 2010...that is a mere 19 percent of the home runs from a year ago. Taking that into consideration, LMU was expected to experience a "power-outage" in 2010. So far, LMU hasn't received the memo. The Lions entered the weekend with 33 home runs through 38 games. That equates to an average of 0.87 home runs per game. At the current rate, LMU is on pace to hit right about 49 home runs this year. Sophomore Matt Koch leads the way with 10 home runs, followed by sophomore Alex Guthrie with five and senior Brad Bauer with four.
FOLLOW THE LIONS ONLINE...
Log on to www.LMULions.com for all the latest info on the Lions, including updated schedules, rosters, player bios, and more. Don't forget to also sign up to follow the Lions on Facebook (Facebook.com/LMULions) and Twitter (Twitter.com/LMULions). All LMU baseball games, including those games on the road, will be broadcast live via Gametracker. In addition, in conjunction with Stretch Internet, all LMU baseball games will be broadcast via live audio online at www.LMULions.com. Just visit the Lion baseball page, click on schedule, and click on the links located on the right side of the schedule for that particular game. All broadcasts will be archived within 72 hours of their original airing and will include both the pre-game and post-game shows.
LMU SPORTS WEEKLY...
LMU is also proud to introduce a new weekly podcast show, LMU Sports Weekly, hosted by Jesse Kass. The show will feature radio highlights and recaps from recent games, interviews with student-athletes and coaches, and previews of upcoming events. All shows can be heard online at LMULions.com. Fans can also subscribe to the free podcast via iTunes. Just search "LMU" in the iTunes Store.
INSIDE THE LIONS...
"Inside the Lions" is a special look into LMU Athletics and its student-athletes in a 10 to 15 minute show hosted by a student-athlete, sophomore men's basketball guard Jarred DuBois. Airing roughly twice a month, the show will highlight a student-athlete and give an inside look to why LMU is such a special place. In addition, highlights from top games and other game day features will be within the show. Take a look at the newest show or past shows. It's all here thanks to Lions' All-Access.
COMING TO A GAME?...
Fans, come cheer on the Lions this year at Page Stadium. LMU will host 29 home games this season. To reserve your tickets today, please contact the LMU Ticket Office at (310) 338-LION. Tickets are also available at the Ticket Office prior to the start of the game. When traveling to the venue, please remember that the Loyola Marymount University campus is located in Westchester at One LMU Drive, approximately four miles north of the Los Angeles International Airport. Fans traveling to LMU must use the main entrance off of Lincoln Blvd. on LMU Drive. Those seeking handicap parking must also use the main entrance, where they can get directions from the guard at the front gate. Gates to Page Stadium open roughly two hours before the start of a game.
Friday's baseball game against Saint Mary's at 3 p.m. is this week's "Team LMU" event. "Team LMU" was created to generate awareness and excitement for LMU sporting events on game days. Staff and students are encouraged to wear LMU gear on designated "Team LMU" days and to attend the games. To view more information about the current and future "Team LMU" events, please visit www.LMULions.com/teamlmu.
GAEL GOSSIP...
Saint Mary's enters the weekend series against the Lions toting a 14-20-1 overall record, and a 5-4 mark in the WCC. The Gaels have won three straight, and four of their last five games overall. Most recently, Saint Mary's swept a three-game West Coast Conference series from Santa Clara last weekend. Troy Channing, last year's WCC Freshman of the Year, paces the squad offensively with a .312 batting average, 22 run scored, four doubles and a team-best 11 home runs. He also leads the team in RBI at 39, walks with 26 and stolen bases with five. Martin Agosta leads the team on the hill, toting a 3-3 record and a 3.35 ERA in 11 appearances and six starts. Kyle Barraclough is the team-leader in wins with five, while he also leads the team in strikeouts with 48. LMU leads the all-time series between the two teams, 82-39. The Lions and Saint Mary's, led by head coach Jedd Soto in his sixth season, last met on April 26, 2009 at Saint Mary's as the Gaels defeated the Lions, 5-4. The last Lion victory came on April 24, 2009 at Saint Mary's, as the Lions defeated Saint Mary's 5-4.
