STOCKTON, Calif., -- The Loyola Marymount softball team split in its first two games of its three game series against Pacific on Saturday, as the Lions won their first game 4-1, and then lost their second game 4-3.
The Lions opened up their first game of the series with strong momentum, as the team put the first two runs on the board in the first inning.
Irma Sanchez was first to get on base, as she hit a single to left field, and then stole second.
With Sanchez on second,
Delanie Wisz hit a homerun to put two runs on the board. The Lions maintained their momentum going into the second inning.
Andrea Gonzalez opened up the second with a double to right center, and then. Advanced to third after
Riley Ehlen grounded out to the shortstop.
A double from
Desiree Moreno sent Gonzalez home, giving the Lions a 3-0 lead. Jackson came in to pinch run for Moreno and quickly scored when
Sierra Marshall hit a single. The Lions closes out the second inning up 4-0.
LMU went quietly the rest of the game. Pacific was only able to put one run on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning.
The Lions had nine total hits compared to the Tiger's seven. Sanchez went 2-3 at the plate, while
Megan Dedrick went 2-4. Moreno went 1-2, while
Maddison Flores and Gonzales went 1-3.
Hannah Bandimere pitched a complete seven-inning game, only allowing one run and seven hits. The senior had six strikeouts.
Up 1-0 on the day, the Lions battled during their second game of the day, but couldn't take the win.
Pacific opened up the second game with one run in the bottom of the first to take the lead. The Lions quickly answered back, scoring two runs in the top of the second.
Wisz was first on base in the top of the second after getting hit by the pitch, she then advanced to second after Gonzalez grounded out. Ehlen then hit her seventh homerun of the season, the most on the team, to send her and Wisz home, taking a 2-1 lead.
Pacific tied things up in the bottom of the third, as they scored another run.
The Tigers took the lead back in the bottom of the fifth, putting two more runs on the board to take a 4-2 lead.
The Lions responded with one more run in the top of the sixth inning, as Wisz reached first base on a fielder's choice, and then advanced to second after a sacrifice bunt from Dedrick and then to third on a passed ball.
Gonzalez hit a double to left center to send Wisz home, but it wasn't enough to beat the Tigers.
The Lions had five hits compared to the Tiger's nine. Ehlen and Marshall both went 1-2 at the plate, while Sanchez and Gonzalez went 1-3.
Samantha Manti pitched 5.0 innings, allowing nine hits and four runs. The pitcher had four strikeouts.
Linnay Wilson came in for the last inning, allowing zero runs and zero hits, while having one strikeout.
The Lions will be back in action on Sunday to conclude the third game of the series starting at noon. Sunday's game will be LMU's last game of the regular season, as well as the last games for seniors Sanchez and Bandimere.
