March 11, 2014

Box Score

The LMU baseball team (9-8) suffered a 6-1 loss to USC (9-6) on Tuesday at USC's Dedeaux Field, ending a seven-game winning streak for the Lions. The Lions struck first in the game, but a two-RBI single from Garrett Stubbs in the fourth handed USC a lead it would not relinquish.

Senior Tommy Cheek and junior Jimmy Jack each had two hits for the Lions, with Cheek scoring the lone Lion run in the second. The native of Escondido, Calif. led off the inning with a single before moving to third on a sacrifice bunt and an error charged to second baseman Dante Flores. Jack contributed the run-scoring hit in the next at bat, shooting a single into centerfield to put the Lions on the board.

The 1-0 Lion lead held until the bottom of the fourth when a leadoff single from AJ Ramirez and a walk to Jeremy Martinez go the Trojans rolling. USC elected to bunt the runners up 90 feet, and with two out, Stubbs delivered the two-RBI single into center to give USC the 2-0 lead. Stubbs finished the game 3-for-4 out of the ninth spot in the order.

The Trojans added four insurance runs in the seventh, highlighted by a bases-clearing three-RBI double from Flores. A walk and two singles loaded the bases with one out before Flores sliced a ball inside the bag at third and into the left field corner to clear the bags. He came into score two hitters later when Vahn Bozoian doubled to right centerfield, finishing a 2-for-3 day at the plate.

Freshman Brenton Arriaga got the start and took the loss, allowing two runs on four hits and two walks to fall to 1-1. Senior Carlos Fuentes was charged with the four runs in the seventh, allowing the four on four hits and a walk.

Sophomore Brent Wheatley improved to 2-0 with the victory for the Trojans, tossing five innings and allowing an unearned run on six hits while striking out three. A quartet of Trojan relievers combined to shutout the Lions over the final four innings, including Matt Huberman posting two strikeouts in 0.2 innings of work.

LMU will return to action on Friday when it opens WCC play against Portland at 6 PM.