March 25, 2012

Box Score

RENO, Nev. - LMU (8-12) managed to plate three late-inning runs, but right-hander Tom Jameson kept the Lion bats at bay throughout the majority of the game on Sunday as LMU dropped a 6-3 decision to Nevada (12-10) in the final game of a three-game series being played at Peccole Park in Reno, Nev. With the loss, LMU dropped the series, 2-1, after winning the first game on Friday.

Jameson went eight innings, allowing just four hits and one run in the eighth inning while striking out five to improve to 3-1. LMU's lone run off of the junior came on a RBI-single from Matt Lowenstein to extend his hitting streak to eight games. Junior Scott Harkin did the damage in the ninth, belting his second home run of the year over the wall in left field with Cullen Mahoney aboard for a two-run shot off of reliever Garret Yrigoyen. Mahoney had reached earlier in the inning with a single to extend his hitting streak to 12 games.

Senior John Lally got the start for LMU and took the loss, lasting 6.1 innings and allowing six runs on 10 hits and a walk while striking out five, before falling to 1-2 on the year. After Kevin Glomb hit the only batter he faced, senior Ryan Hawthorne dealt the final 2.1 scoreless innings, allowing one hit and a walk while striking out one.

Brooks Klein paced the Nevada offense, finishing 3-for-4 with a two-run home run in the first inning. The round-tripper was his fourth of the year. Before entering to pitch, Yrigoyen served as the designated hitter, going 2-for-3 with a double, a stolen base, a run scored and a RBI. Hitting out of the second spot in the order, Jamison Rowe batted 2-for-3 with two runs scored.

After Klein's two-run shot in the first, Nevada plated two more runs in the fourth to take a 4-0 lead. Yrigoyen led things off with a double before a bunt single put runners at the corners. Austin Byler contributed a RBI-single through the right side to plate the first run before Carlos Escobar traded an out for a run with a ground ball to the right side two plays later.

The lead stretched to 6-0 when Nevada scored single runs in the fifth and seventh innings. Yrigoyen once again did some work in the fifth, lining a single to right field to chase home Rowe. Rowe had reached with a one-out single up the middle earlier in the inning. Nevada's run in the seventh was sparked by leadoff singles from Rowe and Klein that put runners at the corners with nobody out. Kewby Meyer took advantage of the opportunity one out later, lining a sacrifice fly to left field to plate Nevada's final run.

LMU managed to scratch a few runs across in the eighth and ninth, but the damage was too little and too late. Jameson faced one over the minimum through six innings as the Lions struggled to piece together opportunities against the righty.

LMU will return to action on Friday when it opens West Coast Conference play against Saint Mary's at home. Friday's series-opener is slated for 3 p.m.