Box Score

LMU's offense had trouble with situational hitting on Saturday night, stranding the bases loaded without scoring a run in three different frames, en route to dropping a 5-1 decision to San Diego (16-13, 4-4 WCC) from Fowler Park. LMU (12-15, 4-4 WCC) left 13 total runners on base, including nine in scoring position, as San Diego evened a three-game WCC series.

The Lions had runners at second and third with one out in the first inning, and ultimately loaded the bases with two down, but could not score. They then had a runner at second with nobody out in the second inning, but could not move him to third over the next two outs, ultimately loading the bases with two out, but failing to score once again.

The Toreros on the other hand loaded the bases with nobody out in the second, but had to settle for just one run as LMU starter Cory Abbott did his best to dance around the mess.

Leading 1-0 headed to the fourth, USD tacked on two more runs on back-to-back RBI-doubles from Jeff Houghtby and Daniel Gardner with two out.

LMU once again had a golden opportunity to do damage offensively in the fifth, loading the bases with one out, but Gary Cornish struck out Sean Watkins and Niko Decolati to strand the bags loaded again.

LMU finally broke through with its only run of the game in the sixth when Austin Miller punched a two-out RBI-single into centerfield to bring home Spencer Erdman.

Cornish did not have his best outing, but finished the game having allowed just one run over 5.2 innings, surrendering six hits and five walks with a hit batter. The right-hander made the pitches when he needed, striking out seven in the victory and moving to 4-1 on the season.

All seven of LMU's hits came from the first three hitters in the order, with Miller going 2-for-4, Phil Caulfield going 3-for-3 with two walks and a double, and Cassidy Brown going 2-for-5 with a double.

After LMU scored its run in the sixth, designated hitter Troy Conyers belted his first homer of the year, a solo-shot in the bottom of the sixth, to reclaim the three-run advantage at 4-1. One final run in the seventh gave USD plenty enough run support to even the series with the Lions.

Abbott was saddled with the loss after throwing 6.0 innings and allowing four runs on nine hits and one walk. The decision moved Abbott to 3-3 on the year.

LMU and San Diego will play the decisive game three of the series tomorrow at 1 p.m.