Box Score Feb. 22, 2018 Box Score
LOS ANGELES â€" The Loyola Marymount University softball team (6-5-1) opened at home against Hawai'i (5-4) today, earning a thrilling pair of wins at Smith Field.
Hannah Bandimere got the win on the mound for the Lions in the first matchup, pitching over five consecutive scoreless innings in LMU's 2-1 victory. The only run scored by the Rainbow Wahine was unearned in the sixth. Bandimere finished with four strikeouts in the win and now has a 4-1 record on the season.
The Lions scored their two runs in each of the first two innings in Game 1. They first got on the board in the first as Irma Sanchez scored on an error by Hawai'i's shortstop. In the second inning, Sanchez singled down the left field line, driving in Molly Grumbo to make it 2-0 LMU. The Rainbow Wahine scored their lone run of the game in the sixth, as Bree Soma singled to shortstop to bring Jordan Hicks home and the game finished with a 2-1 victory for the Lions.
Linnay Wilson pitched a three-hit shutout in Game 2, racking up 10 strikeouts while leading LMU to a 3-0 victory. Andrea Gonzalez had a huge game for the Lions, hitting two homeruns in the win, including a walkoff in the second inning. Sabrina Tebou got on the board next for the Lions on a sacrifice fly from Lindsey Matoi. Gonzalez hit her second homer in the sixth inning as LMU ran away with the 3-0 win.
"I'm pleased with our grit and how we found ways to work pitch to pitch to get the job done," LMU head coach Sami Strinz-Ward said. "Linnay and Hannah both did a great job in the circle for us today. As I've mentioned before, I love our team effort in scoring runs. We don't have to rely on a single person to get it done. Anyone in our lineup can and does get the job done. That being said, Drea [Andrea Gonzalez] had quite the day at the plate, in game two especially."
The last time LMU swept Hawai'i was in the 2004 season, when Strinz-Ward was a college senior playing for the Lions.
LMU returns to Smith Field for another doubleheader against the Weber State Wildcats on Sunday, Feb. 25, with games at 9 and 11:30 a.m.
