The Loyola Marymount Lions (27-19, 14-9 WCC) jumped in front early and then rallied late but couldn't overcome a series of miscues ultimately leading to an 8-5 defeat by the Cougars.
 
The Lions turned to Josh Agnew for the start and the junior was beset by bad luck as errors by LMU turned a one run lead into a three-run deficit.
 
Agnew delivered 5.0 innings for head coach Jason Gill's team, giving up five hits and four walks while striking out three Cougar batters but a series of miscues by LMU in the top half of the fifth were too much to overcome on the night.
 
Heading into the top of the fifth, the Lions were holding onto a one-run lead and surrendered four runs to the Cougars while not allowing a hit. BYU's Mitch McIntyre hit a ball that went through the legs of Trevin Esquerra allowing two runs to score, while the other two of the Cougars runs were plated when Cooper Uhl attempted a pick off at first but his throw went over the head of Esquerra pushing BYU's lead to 6-3.
 
The Lions committed errors in sixth and eighth innings pushing the Cougar run total to eight.
 
LMU made it interesting in the bottom of the ninth as Kenny Oyama doubled to left center, his first three hit game of the year, scoring Ethan Patrick followed by Shearer's single to left plating Oyama. With Ryan Ruley as the potential tying run at the plate the senior hit a deep shot to center but ultimately recorded the third out and ended the night for the Lions. 
 
The Lions look to bounce back against the Cougars with the rubber match on Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m., as Matt Voelker takes the hill for LMU against BYU's Justin Sterner.