The Loyola Marymount Lions (26-18, 13-8 WCC) played the second game of their two-game series against Long Beach State on Tuesday night and were able to grit out a back-and-forth affair ultimately winning 6-5 against the Dirtbags.
 
Getting the starting assignment for head coach Jason Gill was redshirt sophomore Sean Paquet and he was the first of eight pitchers to see action on the hill for the Lions. 
 
LMU scored right from the onset as they were able to plate two runs in the top half of the first inning. Kenny Oyama got on base after getting hit by a John Sheaks pitch and didn't take long to make his presence felt as he promptly stole second. Oyama was moved over to third courtesy of a Brandon Shearer single putting runners on the corners for Trevin Esquerra. Esquerra singled through the right-side brining in Oyama and advanced to second on the throw to get Shearer out at home. Tommy Delgado wrapped up the scoring for the Lions as he doubled to left center bringing in Esquerra. 
 
LMU's two run lead didn't last long as a couple of miscues by the Lions infield contributed to the Dirtbags three runs in the inning.
 
Trailing by one the Lions were able to retake the lead in the visiting half of the fourth. Esquerra led the inning with a single and then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Delgado was able to drive in Esquerra with a single to center field but got caught trying to stretch it into a double by the center fielder. With two men retired the Lions picked up their second run off the bat of Cooper Uhl's single up the middle bringing in Ethan Patrick who walked earlier in the inning. 
 
LMU gave up the tying run in the home half of the sixth then relinquished the lead in the bottom of the seventh setting up a dramatic ninth inning rally to pull ahead.
 
The Lions benefitted from a Dirtbag error as the speedy Dylan Hirsch forced a rushed throw resulting in an error by the shortstop putting him on second. With one out Uhl was hit by a pitch setting up Nick Sogard's single to left loading the bases for the Lions. Oyama tied the game with a sacrifice fly to left plating Hirsch bringing Shearer to the plate. He didn't waste any time as the second pitch he saw on the at bat was sent to left field brining in the go ahead run.
 
CJ Fernandezees, the eighth Lions pitcher on the night, came in and retired the first two batters he saw before conceding a hit to LBSU's Jake Vander Wal before shutting the door and game on the Dirtbags by getting Chase Luttrell to pop up sealing the come from behind victory for LMU.
 
The Lions now set their sights on BYU with the Cougars coming to Page Stadium for a three-game series beginning on Thursday, May 2^ndwith first pitch scheduled for 6:00 p.m.