The Loyola Marymount Lions (23-14, 11-5 WCC) were held to two hits against Saint Mary's starter Tyler Thornton and dropped their first series opener in West Coast Conference play 5-0 to the Gaels.
 
Getting the starting assignment for head coach Jason Gill was senior Codie Paiva and he responded with 7.0 innings of work for the Lions. He surrendered all four runs in the first three innings but was able to settle down, scattering nine hits while striking out seven and not allowing any walks in his 10^thstart of the season.
 
LMU got their first hit courtesy of Kenny Oyama's drag bunt single in the visiting half of the third. With Oyama on base Dylan Hirsch drew a walk but Nick Sogard was unable to advance the runners as he struck out to end the inning. 
 
The Lions put together their best scoring threat in the top half of the eighth courtesy of two walks and a single. LMU's Ethan Patrick and Oyama drew the walks and with two men on Sogard singled through the left side loading the bases. Cooper Uhl was up next with an opportunity to get the Lions on the board but he grounded out to first base ending the inning and scoring threat for LMU.
 
The Lions and Gaels resume their series tomorrow at 3:00 p.m., for the second contest of the three-game set with Josh Agnew getting the starting nod against Saint Mary's Ken Waldichuk.