The Loyola Marymount Lions (24-15, 12-6 WCC) outhit their West Coast Conference opponent Saint Mary's but couldn't overcome the Gaels five runs in the first three innings and dropped their series finale 6-4.
Getting the Sunday start for head coach
Jason Gill was sophomore
Matt Voelker and he gave the Lions 3.0 innings on the bump. Voelker gave up five hits and five runs while walking one and striking out three Gael batters.
LMU's bullpen picked up Voelker and trio of
Kyle Mora,
Sean Paquet and
Giuseppe Benedetti combined for 5.0 innings of two hit baseball. The only run surrendered by the pen was off Mora in the bottom of the fifth.
The Lions didn't have trouble getting hits off Saint Mary's Carlos Lomeli, eight against the right hander, but couldn't turn all that production into more runs to overcome the Gaels.
LMU's first run came in the visiting half of the fourth inning when
Trevin Esquerra hit a no doubt about it home run over the right field wall off Lomeli.
Esquerra wasn't done for the afternoon belting his second home run of the game in the top of the eighth. His three-run homer off Saint Mary's Kevin Milam was his team and West Coast Conference leading 14
thof the season.
The Lions now turn their attention to a Tuesday night matchup with Long Beach State. The Lions and Dirtbags meet for the first time this season on April 23
rdwith first pitch slated for 6:00 p.m.
