LOS ANGELES, Calif., -- The Loyola Marymount softball team (20-12) beat Cal State Fullerton in its first two games of its three-game series, including a 4-3 win and a 3-0 shutout.  

"I was happy with the way our team competed today," said head coach Sami Strinz-Ward. "We had solid pitching from both Sam and Linnay. Irma came in clutch with the bases loaded double. We are gaining some momentum now as we prepare for our conference segment of the season."
 
The Lions started off slow in their first game against the Titans, as they went scoreless for the first four innings, while Fullerton scored one run in the first inning and one in the fourth. LMU found its momentum in the fifth inning, as the team put up four runs. 
 
Riley Ehlen set the tone after she hit a double, which was followed by a double from Desiree Moreno to send Ehlen home. 
 
Sierra Marshall pinch ran for Moreno, while Hailey Jackson was walked, followed by another walk from Kaley Robinson. 
 
Up 1-0 with bases loaded, Irma Sanchez hit a double that earned her three RBIs, as it sent Marshall, Moreno and Jackson home, giving the Lions a 4-2 lead. 
 
The Titans scored one more run in the seventh inning, but still trailed the Lions 4-3 to close out the first game of the series. 
 
The Lions had four total hits, while the Titans had six.  Megan Dedrick went 1-2, while Sanchez, Ehlen and Moreno went 1-3 at the plate. 
 
Samantha Manti pitched six innings and allowed five hits and three runs, earning her eighth win of the season. Linnay Wilson came in to pick up her third save of the season, pitching one inning and allowing one hit. 
 
 
The Lions went into their second game of the day even stronger, as they did not allow a single run and only allowed one hit. 
 
Moreno got her second RBI of the day after she hit a single to send Delanie Wisz home in the second inning. Both teams went quietly until the bottom of the sixth, where the Lions put two more runs on the board. 
 
A sac-bunt from Dedrick would send Sanchez to second, and then advance her home on an error to give the Lions their first run of the inning, which was quickly followed by the second after Delanie Wisz hit a single to send Dedrick home.
 
The Lions had four hits and one error, compared to the Titans one hit and four errors. Wisz went 2-3 at the plate, while Moreno went 1-2 and Sanchez went 1-3. 
 
Wilson pitched a complete scoreless game, picking up her third win of the season and only allowed one hit. 
 
The Lions will be back on the field on Friday, looking to sweep the Titans. The teams will take the field at 2:00 p.m. to complete the third game in the series.