Box Score

After allowing three runs in the ninth inning of a 7-6 loss to UC Irvine on March 7 at home, LMU (14-10) exacted revenge on the Anteaters on Tuesday night, scoring three runs in the top of the ninth to claim a 4-2 win over UCI (11-10) from Anteater Ballpark.

LMU trailed 2-1 headed into the final frame, but received a one-out walk from Steven Chavez. After Chavez was lifted for a pinch runner, Jamey Smart also worked a walk, putting the tying and go-ahead runs aboard. Sophomore Brandon Shearer came up clutch, punching his lone hit of the night into right field to chase home Spencer Erdman and tie the game with his 20th RBI. Shearer would move to second on the throw, leaving runners at second and third with one out. Now pitching with the go-ahead run at third, UCI closer, Calvin Faucher, uncorked a pair of wild pitches, forcing in the next two runs and handing LMU the 4-2 advantage. Faucher was ultimately charged with three runs over his one inning, dropping to 0-2 with the loss.

Codie Paiva, who entered in the eighth inning, secured his own victory by pitching a scoreless ninth. For his 2.0 scoreless frames that featured three strikeouts, Paiva was credited with the win and moved to 4-0 on the year.

LMU's pitching staff showed well against an Anteater team that entered with a .299 team batting average. The Lions limited UCI to just three hits, with LMU starter Giuseppe Benedetti allowing just one hit over 3.0 innings. The right-hander was tagged for two unearned runs in the fourth inning after an error charged to shortstop Nick Sogard led to a pair of Irvine tallies.

Chavez was the lone Lion with multiple hits, finishing 2-for-3 with an RBI-single in the sixth inning.

LMU will look to win its fourth straight game on Wednesday when it welcomes CSU Bakersfield to Page Stadium at 6 p.m.