Box Score

Santa Clara, Calif. - The Lions defeat Santa Clara and improve to 16-26 on the season and 2-4 in the WCC. LMU takes two games at Santa Clara after defeating the Broncos 7-0 today. The Lions put together 12 hits and the pitchers combined for a shutout win against the WCC rival.

LMU and Santa Clara were locked in a pitcher's duel deep into the final game of the series. The Broncos held LMU to just two hits until the fifth inning. Amanda Dirks had both of the first two hits, she had a two out single in the first and the third but the Lions wouldn't push a run across.

LMU finally broke the game open in the 5th with a single from Caitlin Harman, that got things started. Dirks followed with a bunt single to put runners on first and second, a sacrifice bunt by Alicia Brown moved both runners into scoring position. Alex Finie capitalized on the clutch situation and blasted a triple off the right center wall clearing the bases and putting the Lions on the board. Aria Pogni earned an RBI when she scored Finie the next at bat, giving LMU the 3-0 lead.

The 7th inning was another major offensive inning for the Lions. Brown started off with a massive homerun over the left field wall. Pogni followed with a double to continue the Lions offensive roll, Christensen picked up her second hit of the game with a single to left that drove in another run for the Lions. Sabrina Tebou came in to pinch hit and earned the walk, putting Lions on the corners. Katie Manley took advantage of her pinch-hit situation blasting an RBI double into left. Irma Sanchez executed the squeeze to score Tebou and give LMU their seventh run of the game.

In the circle, Rachael Farrington and Andy Wellins combined for a shut out of Santa Clara. Farrington pitched 5 innings, only allowed 7 hits, one strikeout and only walked one Bronco picking up her 7th win of the season. Wellins got her second save of the year, after 2 compete scoreless innings.

Dirks lead the Lions offense finishing the game 3-for-4, Harman went 2-for-4 on the day, and Christensen had herself a day hitting 2-for-3 and recording an RBI. Several other Lions recorded a single hit, Irma Sanchez hit 1-for-3 and recorded an RBI. Thanks to her triple, Finie was 1-for-3 with the two RBIs, Brown was 1-for-3 with a home run, Pogni's double set her up to finish 1-for-3 with an RIB, and Manley also had a RBI double to finish 1-for-1.

LMU is on the road when they take on WCC opponent Pacific next weekend. Games will be Saturday at 12 & 2pm and Sunday at 12pm.