Box Score

A three-run seventh inning from Saint Mary's erased a 1-0 LMU lead and handed the Gaels (19-11, 6-4 WCC) a 3-1 victory in a pitcher's duel with the Lions (17-13, 6-4 WCC) on Thursday in game one of a three-game WCC series being played at SMC's Louis Guisto Field.

Senior Colin Welmon was charged with two of the three runs in the seventh after throwing six shutout frames to start. The right-hander walked the first two hitters in the inning before a wild pitch and a sacrifice bunt plated the equalizer and set the table for a game-tying RBI-double from Connor Hornsby. Two more walks, one intentional, loaded the bases before Ian McLoughlin bunted a 1-2 pitch for another sacrifice and RBI to make it 3-1. With the first two runs being charged to Welmon, and the third to reliever Michael Silva, Welmon fell to 3-4 on the year. The native of Tustin, Calif. allowed just two hits and two walks with six strikeouts in the losing effort.

Sophomore Corbin Burnes neutralized the LMU bats all day, allowing just two hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over a complete game and 109 pitches. The complete game, his third of the season, pushed his record to 5-2 on the year.

Burnes' only real mistake came in the second inning when senior David Edwards belted a first-pitch fastball over the wall in right field. The solo-shot, Edwards' third of the year, was the only run LMU would muster on Thursday.

LMU brought the tying run to the plate in the form of Tanner Donnels in the top of the ninth, but Burnes induced a game-ending 4-6-3 double play to seal the victory.

The Lions will look to even the series tomorrow with a game at 3 p.m.