April 10, 2011

Box Score

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - LMU (19-11, 3-0) scored 11 runs on 16 hits en route to sweeping Santa Clara (12-16, 0-3) with an 11-2 victory over the Broncos in the final game of a three-game series on Sunday at Stephen Schott Stadium. The Lions are now 4-1-2 in weekend series this year, including a pair of sweeps.

Senior Jonathan Johnson led the Lion offense, batting 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a double, a triple and four RBI. The second baseman is now two triples shy of tying the LMU record for triples in a career of 19 held by Bob Sheldon from 1969-72. Sophomore Zac Fujimoto went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored. Sophomore Nick Truhan made the most of his opportunity on Sunday, collecting a two-RBI single in a pinch-hit situation.

Sophomore Aaron Griffin got the victory after tossing five and a third innings and allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits while striking out two. With the win, he improved to 5-1. LMU used four relievers on Sunday, as Matt Florer, Jacob Smigelski, Sean McIntyre and Chris Eusebio combined for 3.2 innings of scoreless relief. The Lions allowed just one earned run over the three games and 27 innings against Santa Clara this weekend.

Zach Looney led the Santa Clara offense, batting 2-for-4 with a run scored and a triple. Curtis Wagner also scored a run, finishing 2-for-4. J.R. Graham got the start and took the loss after pitching five and a third inning and allowing eight runs on 10 hits and a walk. With the loss, he fell to 2-1.

LMU scored twice in the top of the first as Matt Lowenstein walked and stole second base. Johnson followed with a RBI-single before a pair of ground balls pushed the runner around to score.

After Santa Clara scored an unearned run in the bottom of the second, LMU pushed two more across in the top of the third. Johnson doubled to start the frame before a sacrifice bunt and a single from Shon Roe pushed the run home. A Roe stolen base and a single from Alex Guthrie set the table for a Ryan Hawthorne RBI-groundout to first base.

The Looney triple resulted in the lone earned run of the weekend for Santa Clara in the fifth before LMU exploded for five more runs in the sixth. Johnson highlighted the frame, delivering a bases-loaded three-RBI triple to right field.

The Lions added two more insurance runs in the top of the ninth, running the tally to 11-2. A Guthrie hit-by-pitch and a Jason Barmasse pinch-hit double put runners at second and third before Truhan delivered both runs with a single into right-centerfield.

The Lions return to action on Tuesday when they host Cal State Fullerton at 3 p.m.