LOS ANGELES, Calif., -- The Loyola Marymount softball team (24-14, 1-0 WCC) opened up conference play with a 2-0 shutout against (14-18, 0-1 WCC) on Friday afternoon at Smith Field, its first shutout against the Cougars since 2013. 
 
"It was really nice to get that first conference win," said head coach Sami Strinz Ward. "Hannah did a really nice job throwing a shutout for us and our defense did a really great job behind her. I was proud we found a way to score the runs we needed to get the job done. Now we have to move forward and get the job done tomorrow." 
 
LMU's conference opener started out quietly for both teams, as the Lions and the Cougars both went scoreless for the first three innings. 
 
In the bottom of the fourth, Irma Sanchez was walked. While Sanchez was on first, Andrea Gonzalez hit her third homerun of the season, putting two runs on the board for the Lions. 
 
The Cougars were able to gain some momentum throughout the game, as they put up four hits, but the Lions' defense always responded, never letting them score a run. 
 
LMU had three total hits compared to BYU's four. Delanie Wisz went 2-2 at the plate, giving her a 1.000 batting average for conference play. Gonzalez went 1-2 while putting up two RBIs. 
 
Hannah Bandimere (11-8) pitched a complete game shutout, only allowing four hits. This marks Bandimere's fourth shutout of the season, earning her 11^thwin. 
 
The Lions will continue their series against the Cougars with a double-header on Saturday at Smith Field, with the first game starting at noon, and the second game starting at 2:30.