The Loyola Marymount Lions (5-4) dropped the first game of the weekend series to the University of Oregon (5-2) on Friday afternoon. LMU threatened in the early portions of the game and rallied late but couldn't overcome one big inning by the Ducks and that proved to be the difference in the 4-3 loss.
 
The Lions threatened to put runs on the board in the first three innings but couldn't push anyone across until the fourth when Nick Sogard's RBI single to left field put LMU in the plus column.
 
LMU was able to get to Oregon's Cullen Kafka throughout the game but couldn't manage to score more than one run against the sophomore starter. The biggest threat against Kafka the Lions managed was in the top of the fourth, scoring the one run, and loading the bases before getting turned away when Brandon Shearer grounded out to first base ending the inning.
 
Senior Codie Paiva turned in a gutsy performance giving up four hits, striking out two and only allowing one run in 5.0 innings pitched. He managed to get himself in and out of trouble throughout the game, pitching through a bases loaded jam in the bottom of the fourth inning and in the fifth was aided by junior Cooper Uhl, who threw out two would be base stealers for Oregon.
 
The Lions bullpen opened up the sixth in relief of Paiva and struggled with their command. Redshirt sophomore Sean Paquet gave up two singles and walked another Oregon batter before recording his first out prompting head coach Jason Gill to call on sophomore Josh Robins. Robins' first delivery was a wild pitch allowing Oregon to take the lead. The Ducks put up another run on a sacrifice fly to center field and got their final run of the frame on a second wild pitch by Robins. Freshman Alex Burge relieved Robins and recorded the last out on a grounder to the shortstop.
 
LMU got right back in the game in the top half of the eighth when junior Trevin Esquerra belted a two-run home run over the right field wall. His shot was followed by Alex Lambeau's single to left field and Ryan Kawano's single to right center. With the Lions threatening to tie the ball game, with only one out, Dylan Hirsch grounded out to second and Sogard struck out swinging ending the rally.
 
The Lions offensive output in the eighth could be attributed to the defensive display shown by sophomore Kenny Oyama in the bottom of the seventh. Oyama's leaping catch over the left field wall prevented the Ducks from adding to their lead and provided a spark to LMU's bats counting for the two runs in the top half of the eighth inning.
 
The grab by Oyama and the clutch late inning hits are certainly something the Lions can use for momentum when they come back to PK Park for the second game of the weekend series against the Ducks. It's a quick turnaround for both teams as first pitch is slated for 2:00 p.m.