Box Score May 3, 2015 Box Score
The LMU baseball team (27-20-1, 13-11 WCC) could not hold a three-run lead in the ninth inning on Sunday, allowing four runs to San Diego (28-18, 17-7 WCC) in the inning before eventually dropping a 7-5 decision in 10 innings. With the victory, USD swept the Lions in the WCC series.
The Toreros trailed 4-1 with nobody on and two out in the ninth inning before they got to LMU's closer, J.D. Busfield, for four runs. As is often the case, a walk came back to bite the Lions, as Busfield issued a two-out walk on four pitches to Bryson Brigman to keep the inning alive. Brigman moved to second on defensive indifference before a single from Kyle Holder, teamed with an error charged to Ryan Erickson in right field, allowed the first run to score. LMU had a chance to end the game on the ensuing play as Jesse Jenner dribbled a ball under the glove of Ted Boeke at third to put runners at the corners. Austin Bailey made the error costly, as he drilled a two-RBI double into right centerfield to tie the game at 4-4. James Bonds, hitting in a pinch-hit opportunity, followed with the go-ahead RBI-single, shooting a pitch back up the middle to cap the scoring run and send USD to the bottom of the ninth carrying a 5-4 lead.
Boeke kept the Lions alive in the bottom of the ninth, belting his third homer of the year to even the tally, but USD got to Busfield again in the 10th, scoring twice more to take the game. Holder had the big hit, lacing a two-out two-RBI double into the left centerfield gap to score Jerod Smith and Brigman.
Holder finished the game 4-for-4 with a run scored, two doubles and two RBI.
Freshman Sean Watkins impressed again in the start for LMU, allowing just one run on three hits and four walks with two strikeouts over six innings, but he took a no-decision after the Lions could not hold the late lead.
Sophomore Austin Miller had three hits while senior Tanner Donnels went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI on Senior Day.
Busfield allowed six runs (two earned) over his two innings of work, as LMU finished the game with five errors. The loss dropped the LMU closer to 3-2 on the season, while Anthony McIver, USD's closer, earned the victory and moved to 1-2 despite allowing the game-tying homer to Boeke in the ninth.
LMU will look to get back on track on May 12 when it travels to UC Irvine for a game at 6:30 p.m.
