Box Score April 27, 2013
Box Score
PORTLAND, Ore. - The LMU baseball team (21-21, 9-8 WCC) led 2-0 headed into the bottom of the eighth inning, but Portland (15-28, 7-10 WCC) scored three times in the inning, highlighted by a two-RBI double inside the bag at third from Jeff Melby, to escape with a 3-2 comeback victory on Saturday in game two of a three-game West Coast Conference series. With the win, Portland took the series over the Lions.
Senior right-hander Aaron Griffin carried a no-hitter through six and two-thirds innings, but a two-out single from Melby broke up the second no-hit bid of the week. Griffin faced the minimum up until that point, allowing a leadoff walk in the third inning and erasing the runner on a caught stealing. The native of El Cajon, Calif. went 7.2 innings, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks while striking out a career-high 11 hitters. Sophomore Sean Buckle took the loss after walking the only batter he faced and turning the ball over to Bret Dahlson with the score at 2-1. The right-hander allowed the two-RBI double from Melby, with the second of the runs being charged to Buckle to drop his record to 1-2. Pinch-hitter Colin Sowers drove in the first of the three runs in the inning, shooting a double into left field to plate Cody Lenahan and set the table for Melby's heroics.
Sophomore right-hander Kurt Yinger got the start for Portland, tossing a complete game and allowing just two runs on eight hits and a walk. Yinger, who registered his second complete game of the year, improved to 3-4 with the decision after tossing 112 pitches.
Senior Zac Fujimoto collected a pair of hits in the loss, finishing 2-for-4 with a run scored. Matt Lowenstein and David Edwards each notched a hit and a RBI, with Lowenstein breaking-up a scoreless game with a single in the fourth inning to bring home Tanner Donnels. Edwards drove in the second Lion run of the game in the seventh, putting a bunt down on a safety squeeze to bring home Fujimoto from third base.
LMU will look to salvage a game tomorrow at 1 p.m. in the series finale.
