Box Score

LMU's pitching staff combined to walk six hitters, including five in a five-run fifth inning, as #23 BYU (20-3, 4-2 WCC) earned a 7-4 victory over the Lions (10-14, 3-3 WCC) in game three of a three-game West Coast Conference series on Saturday. With the victory, BYU claimed the series over the Lions.

LMU starter Tyler Cohen allowed four of the six walks, ultimately being tagged with seven runs on five hits over 4.1 innings. The right-hander dropped to 2-3 with the loss. Freshman Codie Paiva was a bright spot on the mound for the Lions, throwing 2.0 scoreless innings with three strikeouts.

LMU managed 11 total hits in the loss, but Jamey Smart was the only Lion to do any damage, driving in all four runs as part of a 3-for-5 day that included his second homer of the year â€" a two-run shot with two out in the ninth. Smart also had an RBI-single in the first and third innings, but LMU stranded 10 runners on base, including five in scoring position.

In addition to Smart, Cassidy Brown, Sean Watkins and Phil Caulfield all finished with multiple hits. Caulfield went 3-for-4, while Brown was 2-for-5 with a double and two runs scored.

Tied at two headed into the bottom of the fifth, LMU's pitching ran into trouble. Bronson Larson, who had a two-RBI double in the second inning to put the Cougars on the board, led off the fifth with a walk before a single from Brennon Lund put runners at first and second. Hayden Nielson followed with a walk of his own to load the bases, setting the table for a run-scoring ground ball from Tanner Chauncey. Another walk reloaded the bases before Brennon Anderson shot a single into right field to make it 4-2 and keep the bags loaded. Back-to-back walks forced in the next two runs, running the tally to 6-2, before Eric Urry capped the inning with a sacrifice fly to left field.

The 7-2 advantage held all the way into the top of the ninth when Brown reached with a two-out single to bring Smart to the plate. Smart did the damage for the final time, but it was not enough, as BYU's Mason Marshall entered and closed the door on the Lions with a strikeout of pinch-hitter Jimmy Hill III.

Easton Walker was credited with the win for BYU after tossing 2.2 innings and allowing two hits in relief. The decision moved Walker to 1-0 on the year.

LMU will return to action on Tuesday when it travels to USC for a game at 6 pm.