The Loyola Marymount Lions (22-13, 11-4 WCC) fell behind by a large margin, fought back with seven runs in the bottom of the seventh but their comeback bid came up just short in the 11-8 loss.
 
Getting his first start of the season for head coach Jason Gill was Matt Voelker and he responded with 5.0 innings, yielding four runs on five hits and one walk while striking out two on 52 total pitches. 
 
The Lions gave up runs to the Toreros in the top half of the third and fourth via one-run home runs by Chris Colarossi in the third and Adam Kerner in the fourth. 
 
Trailing by two in the top half of the sixth, Gill called on Giuseppe Benedetti to come in relief of Voelker after he gave up back-to-back singles to open the inning. Benedetti got the first man he saw to fly out but surrendered a walk to Chris McCready loading the bases. With the bags full Kerner singled to left bringing in a run and then was followed by a pinch hit walk by Tora Otsuka for another Torero score. In total USD scored six in the inning chasing both Voelker and Benedetti until Sean Paquet was able to get the third out.
 
The Lions picked up their first run in the bottom half of the sixth when Ethan Patrick grounded out to short plating Trevin Esquerra who doubled to right earlier in the inning. 
 
LMU gave up another run in the top of the seventh but put together a seven-run seventh cutting the Torero lead to one. Dylan Hirsch started off the inning by singling to right field and was followed by a Nick Sogard walk. The speedy Hirsch took advantage of an opportunity and stole third for his ninth stolen base on the year. With men on the corners Cooper Uhl singled up the middle brining in a run. The Lions kept going when Brandon Shearer singled to left scoring Sogard for the second run in the inning. The Lions chased USD's Nate Walker and promptly scored four runs off Jack Dolak, three of which came off the bat of freshman Tommy Delgado's first collegiate home run. Alex Lambeau's single to third brought in the Lions seventh run in the inning but they were unable to get more as USD cut the rally at seven to end the inning.
 
The Lions weren't able to hold San Diego off the scoreboard as the Toreros got insurance runs in the top of the eighth and ninth pushing their lead to 11-8 which ultimately was the final score.
 
LMU dropped only their fourth game in the West Coast Conference but managed to take the weekend series by winning two out of the three contests against USD and have won all five of their WCC series this year. 
 
The Lions now turn their attention to a mid-week game against UC Riverside on Tuesday, April 16^thwith first pitch slated for 6:00 p.m.