April 11, 2014

Box Score

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - The LMU baseball team (20-14, 9-4 WCC) scored three times in the seventh inning to erase a 3-1 deficit en route to beating Saint Mary's (13-19, 5-5 WCC) by a count of 4-3 on Friday at LMU's Page Stadium. Freshman David Fletcher had the big hit in the seventh, shooting a two-RBI triple down the right field line to tie the game and set the table for senior Tommy Cheek's nation-leading 10th sacrifice fly that proved to be the game-winner.

With the 1-for-4 day, Fletcher has now hit safely in six straight games, batting .560 with eight runs scored, three doubles, a triple and six RBI over the span. Senior Cole Trezek also extended a hitting streak, going 1-for-4 to push his tally to 12 straight games.

Junior Colin Welmon earned the victory, but found himself in trouble early. The right-hander allowed single runs in the first, second and fourth, but finished the game with another quality start, tossing 7.0 innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits and three walks while striking out six. The victory moved Welmon to 5-2 on the year. Representing the Lion bullpen, senior right-handers Carlos Fuentes and Bret Dahlson each pitched in a perfect inning with a strikeout, as Dahlson recorded his sixth save of the year and his LMU record 24th of his career.

Left-hander Ryan Brockett was masterful through six innings for the Gaels, allowing just one run over the six innings on a solo homer from David Edwards in the fourth. The homer was Edwards' second in as many games. Unfortunately for Saint Mary's, Brockett got into trouble in the seventh, finishing the game with 7.0 innings pitched and allowing four runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks while striking out seven to take the loss. With the decision, Brockett is now 4-4 on the year.

Collin Ferguson collected the only Gael extra-base hit, going 1-for-4 with an RBI-double in the first inning to bring home Anthony Gonsolin who walked to lead off the game. The Gaels settled for one run in the second after loading the bases with nobody out. Welmon did well to limit the damage, inducing a double-play ball and trading two outs for the one run. A throwing error charged to Fletcher at shortstop cost LMU a two-out run in the fourth as Saint Mary's extended the lead to 3-0 before Edwards' homer in the home-half of the frame.

Trailing 3-1 after the seventh-inning stretch, LMU caught a break on a one-out error charge to Ricky Boas that allowed Chris Barnett to reach. Tyler Cohen followed with a single to put runners at first and second before Fletcher cleared the bags with a three-bagger down the line. Austin Miller reached on his 17th hit by pitch of the year on the ensuing play before Cheek capitalized on the opportunity with the sacrifice fly to put the Lions in the lead.

LMU will look to take game two of the three-game series tomorrow at 6 pm.