The Loyola Marymount Lions (28-21, 14-10 WCC) welcomed the University of Southern California to Page Stadium for their final home midweek game of the season. 
 
The Lions and Trojans went back and forth all night but LMU was the bearer of bad luck and a bad bounce that ultimately led to a 3-2 defeat on Tuesday night.
 
Coming off their Monday afternoon victory against CSU Bakersfield, head coach Jason Gill turned to Giuseppe Benedetti for the final midweek game of the year. Benedetti produced 2.1 innings of work, not surrendering a run and was one of six Lions to take the hill against the Trojans.
 
LMU got on the scoreboard in the home half of the third when Trevin Esquerra's double off the Blue Monster brought in Brandon Shearer who doubled earlier in the inning breaking the scoreless tie. 
 
The Lions gave a run back in the visiting half of the fifth when Sean Paquet, after retiring the first two batters he faced, gave up three straight singles knotting the score at one a piece.
 
LMU put themselves back in front in the top of the sixth inning when Shearer started off the frame with a single to left field and ultimately scored off the bat of Steven Chavez with his RBI single to right field pushing LMU to a 2-1 advantage.
 
The Lions gave up a run in the visiting half of the eighth, tying the game at two but ran into a bad break in the top of the ninth that propelled the Trojans to the win. 
 
Nick Frasso took the mound in the top of the ninth and was able to record the first out after issuing an inning opening walk to Trevor Halsema. Halsema then stole second putting himself in scoring position when Brandon Perez hit what appeared to be a routine play to the second basemen Matthew Piotrowski but as he was going to field the ball on a hop it bounced completely over his head allowing Halsema to score from second and gave USC the one run advantage.
 
The Lions came up in the home half of the ninth but couldn't muster any offense as they were retired in order and fell to USC 3-2.
 
The Lions will now turn their attention back to the West Coast Conference when they host Gonzaga in the final home series of the season. The series kicks off on Friday, May 17^thwith first pitch slated for 6:00 p.m.