Box Score | Photo Gallery

Leading 8-2 headed to the bottom of the ninth, LMU (16-10, 5-2) surrendered five runs on three hits and two errors in the final frame, but held on to beat Pacific (11-13, 2-5 WCC) by a count of 8-7 on Friday night in game one of a three-game series from LMU's Page Stadium.

The Lions seemingly had the game in the bag headed to the final inning, as starter Blake Redman had allowed just two runs with four strikeouts over the first 8.0 innings, and he came out to try to finish what he started. The right-hander, who eventually earned the win and moved to 3-4 on the year, ultimately was charged with six runs (four earned) on nine hits and one walk with four strikeouts over 8.1 innings of work.

Though he ran into some trouble in the ninth, Redman's only real blemishes prior to the final frame came on a pair of solo homers. Blake Barry belted the second pitch of the game over Mikos Blue Monster in left for his second of the year, while Lucas Halstead connected on his first of the season in the fourth.

LMU's offense used a four-run second and a three-run fifth to open up a 7-2 lead after five. Jamey Smart contributed a two-RBI double in the second inning, while Nick Sogard also drove in one with a double in the same frame. Smart finished the game 1-for-2 with two runs scored and two RBI, while Sogard collected the lone multi-hit game for LMU, finishing 2-for-3 with a run scored and the RBI. LMU's damage in the fifth inning came on a sacrifice fly from Steven Chavez, a wild pitch, and an error charged to third baseman Kevin Sandri.

Though it seemed insignificant at the time, LMU tacked on what proved to be the game-winning run in the bottom of the eighth when Phil Caulfield chopped a two-out bases-loaded ground ball to third where Sandri had no play, but was able to catch a trail runner, Cooper Uhl, spinning wide around the bag at third, but not before the run had already plated.

Including Redman, LMU used three different pitchers in the ninth, as Ted Boeke walked the only two men he faced to force in two runs, eventually giving way to freshman Braydon Salzman. The right-hander uncorked a wild pitch that would allow Pacific to cut the deficit to one run and move the tying run into second base, but he ultimately struck out Sandri looking on the ninth pitch of the at bat to end the game.

LMU will look to win its sixth series of the year on Saturday when it sends lefty Brenton Arriaga to the mound at 6 p.m.