Box Score

Junior Tyler Cohen got the start for LMU in the rubber game of a three-game West Coast Conference series against Portland on Sunday, and the right-hander dealt the first 7.0 shutout innings, allowing just one hit with five strikeouts, to guide LMU (8-12, 2-1 WCC) to a 3-0 shutout victory over the Pilots (11-8, 1-2 WCC) from LMU's Page Stadium.

Michael Silva threw a scoreless eighth before Sean Watkins retired the side in the ninth to seal LMU's first shutout victory and record his second save of the year. Although they allowed just two hits in the game, LMU did issue eight walks, including five from Cohen. The two-hitter is the first for the Lions since Colin Welmon tossed a two-hitter against Hawaii on February 28, 2013.

Cohen, who benefitted from three doubles plays in the game, improved to 2-2 with the victory.

LMU's offense chased Portland starter, Jordan Horak, after just one inning of work, tagging the right-hander for three runs on four hits and two walks over 1.0+ innings to send him to 1-1 on the year. The Portland bullpen did well to keep the Pilots in the contest, blanking LMU from the third inning forward, but LMU's arms kept the Pilot hitters at bay and off the board despite allowing the tying run to come to the plate in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

LMU got off to a great start on Sunday, plating a pair of runs in the first. Austin Miller led off with a walk before a sacrifice bunt and a single put runners at the corners. Niko Decolati, who finished 2-for-3, drove home Miller and what proved to be the game-winner one play later. A walk to Jamey Smart followed to load the bases, setting the table for a sacrifice fly from Ted Boeke.

LMU tacked on its final run in the second as Jimmy Hill III singled to shortstop to start the inning. Ryan Erickson doubled to left centerfield on the ensuing play, sending Hill into third and chasing Horak from the game. A hit by pitch allowed LMU to load the bases, but the Lions would have to settle for just one run as Miller punched a sacrifice fly to left field in front of a pair of strikeouts from reliever Kevin Baker to strand a pair of runners.

LMU will return to action on Tuesday when it travels to UC Irvine for a game at 6:30 p.m. The contest at UCI will be the first of eight straight away from home.