March 4, 2011

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - LMU (8-3) dropped a one-run decision to Hawai'i (4-5) by a count of 3-2 on Friday to even a four-game series being played at LMU's Page Stadium over the weekend. A pair of middle-inning runs and a strong pitching performance proved to be the difference in the ballgame.

Right-hander Connor Little went seven and a third innings for Hawai'i, allowing just two runs on six hits while striking out three en route to earning his first victory of the season. Lenny Linsky converted on his second save on Friday, tossing an inning and two-thirds of scoreless relief while striking out a pair.

Sean Montplaisir paced the Rainbow offense, batting 3-for-4 with a run scored, two doubles and a RBI. Five of Hawai'i's nine hits went for doubles, including one for Michael Blake to help him to a 2-for-4 day at the dish.

For the second time in three starts, junior Alex Gillingham surrendered three runs over eight innings and earned a loss. Gillingham previously went a complete game in a loss to UC Riverside on February 19 as the Lions were shutout, 3-0. Gillingham has now thrown eight innings in each of his first three starts this year, matching a career-high in innings for the fifth time. Freshman Jacob Smigelski tossed two-thirds of an inning as the first reliever out of the Lion bullpen, followed by lefty Matt Florer who retired the only batter he faced in the top of the ninth.

Sophomore Matt Lowenstein extended his hitting streak to 10 games by collecting his fifth multiple-hit effort with a 2-for-3 day out of the leadoff spot. The left-handed hitter, who is batting .474 on the year, also drew a walk and scored a run. Shon Roe and Bret Dahlson recorded the lone Lion RBI on Friday, as Dahlson's 1-for-4 effort extended his hitting streak to three games.

Hawai'i wasted no time taking a lead on Friday, scoring once in the first inning. A Zack Swasey one-out single to left field on a 0-2 pitch got the ball rolling before Swasey took it upon himself to get into scoring position by stealing second. The Rainbows stole three bases on Friday in the victory. Montplaisir cashed in on the opportunity on the ensuing play, sending a RBI-double into the gap in left centerfield to put Hawai'i on the board.

LMU got back to even with a run in the second, benefitting from a pair of two-out doubles. Colton Plaia delivered the first two-bagger before Dahlson got a 0-2 breaking ball that he could handle on the ensuing play, shooting a RBI-double into the gap in right centerfield to run the tally even.

The Rainbows managed to scratch two more runs across in the middle innings, scoring once in the fifth and once more in the sixth. David Peterson doubled to start the fifth before coming around to score on an AJ Bayus RBI-single two batters later. A Montplaisir single on a 3-2 pitch set the table in the sixth, as Jeffrey Van Doornum lined a RBI-double into the left field corner to plate Montplaisir and what proved to be the game-winning run all the way from first base.

LMU struck for one last run in the eighth to cut the deficit to one at 3-2, but the Lions could not muster any further offense. Lowenstein led off with a single in the frame before moving to second on a groundout from Johnson. After a Matt Koch hit-by-pitch and a strikeout left runners at first and second with two out, Roe dribbled an infield hit to shortstop that kicked off the shortstop's glove and allowed Lowenstein to turn third and score without a throw.

LMU will return to action tomorrow as it continues the four-game series with Hawai'i at 1 p.m.