LOS ANGELES, Calif., -- The Loyola Marymount softball team closed out the first weekend of the LMU Tournament with a 6-2 win over New Mexico Sunday afternoon, giving the team a 2-2 split on the weekend.
"I think this was a good weekend of growth for us, we were able to figure out a lot of things we had been struggling with," said head coach Sami Strinz Ward. "These last two games and last two days were pretty exciting because we found our fight, we got our fight back and we were able to be present for more pitches. Overall, I am pretty proud of the trend we are on right now."
The Lions (12-9) and the Lobos (7-16) both went quietly in the first two innings. It wasn't until the third that New Mexico got a run, and then got their second in the fifth.
Down 2-0 headed into the bottom of the fifth inning, the Lions tied things up, as
Molly Grumbo was on base when
Andrea Gonzalez hit a homerun to give the Lions two runs.
LMU's defense put up a dominant showing in the sixth inning, as the bases were loaded but not a single run was made.
The Lions maintained their momentum at the bottom of the sixth, putting four more runs on the board.
Delanie Wisz hit a single, and advanced all the way home for a run after walks from
Maddison Flores,
Desiree Moreno, who pinch hit for
Kaley Robinson and
Irma Sanchez.
Grumbo reached first base on a fielder's choice, and then advanced to second, advancing Robinson to third and then home on a wild pitch; Flores was out at home.
Gonzalez tallied up two RBIs after hitting a double, sending Grumbo and Sanchez home, giving the Lions their second win of the season over New Mexico.
Hannah Bandimere picked up her ninth win of the season after pitching 3.2 innings, allowing four hits and one run, giving her a 2.51 ERA on the game.
Samantha Manti pitched 2.1 innings, allowing two hits and one run, while
Linnay Wilson pitched one hitless- scoreless inning.
The Lions had five total hits compared to the Lobos six. Gonzalez went 2-3, while Flores went 1-1, Wisz went 1-3 and Grumbo went 1-4.
"Hannah has been steady for us, we have been putting a lot of innings on her, but she wants a lot of innings, she wants to finish her senior year off on a high note and really make her mark on the program," said Strinz Ward. "I've said it a million times and I will always say it, I am really proud of the growth she is had over the past four years and I am really excited for her future."
The Lions will be back on the field on Tuesday to host Boston University in a double-header starting at noon.
