April 26, 2015 Final Stats
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LOS ANGELES - One day after combining for 10 home runs over a two-game span, the third and final game between LMU and Saint Mary's was a defensive battle, one that the Gaels would eventually claim, 3-1 in eight innings Sunday at Smith Field.
The Lions drop to 24-27 overall and an even 6-6 in West Coast Conference play while Saint Mary's moves to 18-29 overall and 2-7 in league action.
LMU struck first, manufacturing a run in the bottom of the first. With one out, Amanda Dirks reached on a fielder's choice to short as the Gael defense elected to get Caitlin Harman out at third. Dirks would advance to second on a passed ball and score on a Stephanie Crist double to deep right center.
The 1-0 lead stood through five innings before Saint Mary's found the equalizer in the sixth. Katelyn Mamizuka reached on a fielder's choice, stole second, advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a Giana Bilotta single to right center.
The Lions threatened to respond in the sixth as Dirks struck out swinging, but reached on a wild pitch. She moved to second on a ground out and to third on another wild pitch, but would be stranded there as Gael reliever Katie Moss got Alex Finie to strike out swinging for the final out.
After nothing doing for either side in the seventh, the Gaels came up with the big inning in the eighth. Erica Musgrave led off with a single and scored on Loralie Fitzpatrick's double to center. The Gaels added an insurance run as Bilotta's RBI-double sent Fitzpatrick home from third.
The Lions went three-up, three-down in the final frame.
Moss was credited with the win, fanning six and not allowing a hit in three innings of relief. Rachael Farrington was tagged with the loss for the Lions after fanning four and giving up eight hits for three runs in eight complete innings.
Harman led the way with two of LMU's six hits.
The Lions will have a bye week from action before concluding the 2015 season on May 8 and May 9, hosting BYU in a three-game WCC series.
