RENO, Nev., -- The Loyola Marymount softball team won the NISC Regional Championship in Reno, Nev. on Saturday after beating University of Nevada twice in two must-win games. 
 
"I am so proud of our teams fight today," said head coach Sami Strinz-Ward. "It's tough to come back and beat a very good team two times in a survive and advance setting. Our team showed a relentless fight that will draw upon again next week in the championship round. Every single player on our team contributed to the success this weekend. I couldn't be more excited for our women!"
 
The Lions needed to win both of Saturday's games to clinch the Regional Championship, as the team lost one game in the double-elimination tournament.  went into Saturday's game with one tournament loss, as the team fell to Nevada in its first game on Thursday, while the Wolf Pack went into Saturday's game undefeated. 
 
The Lions set the tone in their first game, beating the Wolf Pack 4-2 in a walk-off. LMU put the first run on the board in the second inning.
 
Riley Ehlen advanced to first base after being hit by the pitch, and then advanced to second after Andrea Gonzalez hit a single to the shortstop. Desiree Moreno collected the RBI when she doubled to right center, sending Ehlen home.  
 
Nevada answered back in the top of the third, putting one run on the board to tie things up. LMU took the lead back in the bottom of the third when Molly Grumbo hit her third homerun of the tournament. 
 
The teams went scoreless until the Lions closed out the game in a walk-off in the bottom of the seventh. With Grumbo on first after a walk, Maddison Flores hit a homerun to close out the game with a 4-2 win. 
 
The Lions had seven total hits compared to the Wolf Pack's eight. Irma Sanchez went 2-3 at the plate, while Grumbo, Megan Dedrick and Moreno went 1-3. 
 
Hannah Bandimere started in her fourth straight Regional NISC game and pitched 4.1 innings, allowing two runs, four hits and had six strikeouts. 
 
Samantha Manti (13-6) came in for the win, allowing four hits and zero runs, while having one strikeout. 
 
The Lions' win forced a winner take all Regional Championship game that immediately followed the first game. 
 
The Lions second game was off to a slow start, as the team went scoreless in the first two innings, while Nevada took a 2-0 lead, as the Wolf Pack had one run in the first inning and one run in the second. 
 
The Lions responded in the top of the third inning when Moreno hit a homerun to put the Lions on the board. 
 
LMU kept its offensive momentum going in the top of the fourth, putting four runs on the board, starting with a single up the middle from Delanie Wisz, who then advanced to third after a double from Dedrick. 
 
A single from Ehlen sent Wisz home and advanced Dedrick to third. With Dedrick on third and and Ehlen on first, Gonzalez hit a homerun, collecting three RBIs. 
 
With a 5-2 lead, Nevada responded in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs to take 6-5 lead, which did not last long, as the Lions continued their offensive momentum, scoring three more runs in the top of the fifth. 
 
Grumbo opened up the inning hitting her third homerun of the tournament. Tied at 6-6, Flores walked. While on first, Sanchez doubled to right center, sending Flores home. 
 
Wisz walked, while Sanchez advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt from Dedrick. Sanchez scored after after a sacrifice foul from Ehlen.  
 
The Lions kept things going in the sixth, as Moreno singled up the middle. Hailey Jackson came in to pinch run, and advanced to second when Marshall walked. Jackson scored when Grumbo reached first on a throwing error, giving the Lions a 9-6 lead to end the top of the sixth. 
 
The momentum continued in the seventh, as Ehlen was walked, and then scored after a double from Moreno. 
 
Kaley Robinson came in to pinch run for Moreno, and scored after Marshall hit a single to left field, closing out the seventh with an 11-6 lead. 
 
With one walk and no hits in the bottom of the seventh, the Lions quickly shutdown the inning to win the NISC Regional Championships. 
 
The Lions had 11 hits compared to Nevada's 12. Moreno went 3-4 at the plate, while Marshall went 2-3. 
 
Bandimere started in her fifth straight game, pitching 2.0 innings, allowing four hits and two runs, while having two strikeouts. Linnay Wilson came in to pitch 1.2 innings and allowed six hits and four runs. 
 
Manti came in for the win, pitching 3.1 innings, allowing two hits and zero runs, while having three strikeouts. 
 
Wisz took home the NISC Regional Championships MVP title, while three Lions took home the All-Tournament Team honors, including Manti, Moreno and Dedrick.
 
Wisz scored three of the Lions' 11 homeruns and posted a .462 batting average. The MVP had five RBIs and scored eight runs. 
 
Manti had a 1.38 ERA across 13 innings and picked up two wins. Moreno had a .400 batting average, had three RBIs and one homerun, while Dedrick had a .385 batting average, hit her first homerun of the season, had three RBIs and four runs. 
 
The Lions will head to the NISC Championship in Fort Collins, Colo., where the team will take on Iowa State on Friday. Liberty and UT Arlington will also be competing for the title.