The Loyola Marymount Lions (5-3) head to Eugene to take on the University of Oregon (4-2) for a three-game set this weekend. 
 
LMU is coming off an impressive victory over #25 UC Irvine, where they constantly applied pressure to the Anteaters by having base runners on in every inning but two. The persistent threat by Jason Gill's team pushed UC Irvine to go to their bullpen for a majority of the game using six pitchers in total.
 
The Lions are looking to apply the same amount of pressure to an Oregon team who's coming off a three-game sweep of Saint Mary's. 
 
Getting the nod to start the series against the Ducks is senior Codie Paiva, who's coming off a dominant performance over preseason A-10 favorites Saint Louis. Paiva's command on the mound kept the Billikens bats at bay allowing him to strike out eight, giving up zero runs and scattering six hits in 5.2 innings worth of work.
 
Senior Brandon Shearer, recently named WCC Rawlings Player of the Week, is looking to continue his hot hitting at the dish. Shearer's team leading .423 batting average, to go along with on base percentage and hits has been the spark for the Lions in the early parts of the season.
 
Junior Nick Sogard has been just as lethal at the plate, coming off a three hit, two runs, one RBI game against UC Irvine. Sogard is in the top three for the Lions in average, slugging percentage, one base percentage, runs scored, hits and RBIs. Not to be outdone is Trevin Esquerra, leading the Lions in slugging percentage, RBIs, doubles, triples and home runs.
 
LMU's hitters are looking to continue to produce at the plate and give the offensive punch for their pitchers against the Ducks over the weekend.
 
The Lions series against the Ducks begins Friday afternoon with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m., followed by Saturday's 2:00 p.m. start and culminating with a noon start to wrap up the series on Sunday.