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Playing game one of a three-game West Coast Conference series at LMU's Page Stadium on Friday, Saint Mary's (25-18, 13-6 WCC) frustrated LMU on both sides of the ball, stranding 10 Lion runners on base while benefitting from three double plays, and drawing nine free passes, including eight walks, at the plate en route to taking the opener, 8-3.

Sophomore starter Sean Watkins allowed five runs on two hits and four walks over 3.1 innings for LMU, with both hits going for homers. Anthony Gonsolin homered in the second inning before a pair of walks set the table for a three-run shot from Ian McLoughlin in the fourth. LMU, which trailed 5-0 headed to the bottom of the fourth inning, never got Watkins out of the hole, with the right-hander ultimately being tagged with the loss and falling to 0-1 on the season.

Offensively, LMU had a number of opportunities, but Saint Mary's consistently worked through the jams. Corbin Burnes, who got the start and moved to 8-0 with the win, allowed just one run on four hits but walked three. The right-hander used the strikeout to escape trouble, striking out nine over the course of his 6.0 innings of work.

Only two players finished the game with multiple hits, as Nate Nolan went 2-for-5 with an RBI for Saint Mary's, and Phil Caulfield batted 2-for-5 with a run scored. Caulfield was at the center of attention in LMU's final push to get back into the game, coming to the plate with the bases loaded and one out in a 7-3 ballgame in the bottom of the eighth. Facing reliever David Dellaserra, who had already induced a bases-loaded ground ball to third for the first out of the frame, Caulfield chopped a ball up the middle where second baseman Zach Kirtley fielded, stepped on the bag, and fired to first to double-up the speedy Caulfield and complete the third double play of the day for the Gaels.

For his efforts, during which he entered with two on and nobody out in a four-run game, Dellaserra was credited with his second save of the year, dealing the final 2.0 scoreless innings.

Putting the tough first game behind them, the Lions will return to action on Saturday whey they continue the three-game series with the Gaels at 6 p.m.