April 13, 2013

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The LMU baseball team (17-17) suffered its second two-run loss in as many games on Saturday at #17 UCLA (22-9), dropping a 3-1 decision to lose the three-game series against the Bruins.

LMU managed just five hits and stranded seven runners. Junior Tommy Cheek collected two of the five, notching a RBI-single to plate LMU's lone run of the game in the fourth. Matt Lowenstein managed LMU's lone extra-base hit of the game, lacing a double into the left field corner and scoring the lone LMU run.

UCLA scored once in the third and twice more in the sixth to record the victory. Kevin Kramer contributed the RBI-single in the third inning, while Pat Valaika drove in what proved to be the game-winning run with a double down the left field line in the third to bring home Eric Filia. Filia was the only Bruin with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-4 with the run scored. Pat Gallagher capped the scoring run with a RBI-single of his own in the third inning.

The three runs proved enough for the UCLA pitching staff, as Nick Vander Tuig went 6.2 innings and allowed just one run on four hits and a walk while striking out five. The right-hander earned the victory and improved to 5-3 on the year. David Berg recorded his second save in as many days for UCLA, pitching a perfect ninth inning to record his eighth save of the year.

Senior Aaron Griffin got the start and took the loss for LMU, falling to 3-4 after pitching 5.2 frames and allowing three runs on eight hits and two walks. Brandon Horth was impressive in relief for the Lions, retiring all seven he faced, including a strikeout, over 2.1 innings of work.

LMU will look to salvage a game with the Bruins tomorrow at 1 p.m.