RENO, Nev., -- The Loyola Marymount softball team bounced back in its second game of the NISC, as the Lions run ruled UC Riverside in a six-inning 10-0 shutout.
Molly Grumbo set the tone, as she hit a homerun off of the first pitch of the game to give the Lions a 1-0 lead.
The Lions went quietly in the second, had two hits in the third and then started their offensive burst in the top of the fourth.
Delanie Wisz and
Megan Dedrick were both walked to open up the fourth inning. With both runners on first and second,
Riley Ehlen hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Dedrick to second and Wisz to third.
Andrea Gonzalez hit a single to center field, running in Dedrick and Wisz. Gonzalez stole second, and then
Desiree Moreno was walked.
Kaley Robinson came in to pinch run for Moreno. A bunt from Marshall advanced Robinson to second and Gonzalez to third, the runners both advanced home after Grumbo hit a single to center field, giving the Lions a 5-0 lead to end the fourth inning.
The top of the fifth started with another walk, putting Wisz on first base, who then advanced to second after Ehlen was walked.
Wisz then advanced to third on a passed ball, and then scored the Lions' sixth run after Gonzalez reached first on a fielder's choice, putting Ehlen out.
The Lions continued their momentum in the top of the sixth; starting with a walk from
Sierra Marshall. Marshall was the fourth Lion to open the inning with a walk
Grumbo hit a sacrifice bunt to advance Marshall to second, which was followed by a run from Marshall after Sanchez reached first on a fielding error.
Up 7-0, Wisz hit her third homerun of the NISC and her ninth of the season, sending her and Sanchez home.
Megan Martin came in to pinch hit for Dedrick and hit her first homerun of the season, giving the Lions a 10-0 lead.
The Highlanders weren't able to answer back in the bottom of the sixth, forcing a run-rule to end the game.
The Lions had eight total hits, compared to the Highlander's three, while LMU had zero erros and UCR had one.
Grumbo went 2-3 at the plate, while Moreno and Martin went 1-1. Marshall and Wisz went 1-2.
Hannah Bandimere pitched five scoreless innings, only allowing two hits. The senior had one strikeout and one walk. The Highlanders had eight total walks.
The Lions 10-0 shutout advances them to game five, where the team will take on the loser of game four, Nevada vs. Fresno State on Friday at 4:00 p.m.
The Lions were defeated by Nevada 4-3 in their first game of the NISC. LMU played Fresno State earlier in the season and lost 4-2.
The winner of Thursday afternoon's game will advance to game six on Saturday and play the winner of game four.
