LAKE ELSINORE – The Loyola Marymount University softball team split on day two of the Golden State 27 Tournament in Lake Elsinore, Calif., as the team beat Seaton Hall University 6-4, but fell to Long Island University 6-5 after forcing an eighth inning.
 
The Lions opened the day up against Seaton Hall, where the Lions didn't make noise until the fifth inning. The Pirates took the first lead in the bottom of the second. In the top of the fifth, Allisha Martinez singled to center field, and then advanced to second after Riley Ehlen singled to left field. Morgan Debord doubled to left field, allowing Ehlen and Martinez to score, giving the Lions a 2-1 lead. 
 
The Lions continued their momentum in the top of the sixth, starting with a walk from Moreno, who advanced to second after Peyton Angulo singled. Andrea Gonzales collected an RBI after she doubled and Desiree Moreno scored. Gonzalez advanced to third on a passed ball and Angulo scored. 
 
Gonzalez scored after Martinez was walked and Paris Nguyen reached first on a fielder's choice. Ehlen was walked and Nguyen advanced to second, and then scored after Debord reached on an error. The Lions closed out the sixth up 6-1. 
 
Seaton Hall responded in the bottom of the seventh with three runs, but it wasn't enough to compete with the Lions. LMU closed out its first game of the day with a 6-4 win. 
 
Ehlen went 1-2 at the plate, while Martinez and Debord went 1-3. The Lions had seven total hits, compared to Seaton Hall's 11. Debord had two RBIs of the Lions' four. 
 
Brittany Steenbergen picked up her second win of the season after pitching 6.0 innings, allowing eight hits and only one run and had three strikeouts. 
 
One game up on the day, the Lions went into their second game against Long Island University. Molly Grumbo set the tone in the first inning, hitting a single to left field, and then advancing home after Gonzalez doubled. 
 
At the top of the second, Nguyen singled, and then advanced to second after a groundout from Ehlen and then advanced to third after a sacrifice bunt from Debord. Grumbo continued her momentum, hitting a single to send Nguyen home, giving the Lions a 2-0 lead. 
 
The Blackbirds responded in the bottom of the second, tying things up after scoring two runs. LMU took their lead back in the top of the third. With Gonzalez on second and Angulo on third, Ehlen singled, advancing both of them home, giving the Lions a 4-2 lead. 
 
LIU kept things neck and neck, as the team tied things up with the Lions 4-4 in the bottom of the third. 
 
In the top of the fifth, Nguyen put another run on the board after Megan Dedrick hit a single. LIU continued to respond, tying things back up 5-5 in the bottom of the fifth. 
 
Tied at 5-5, the teams went scoreless and forced a fifth inning. The Lions weren't able to score a run in the top of the eighth, while the Blackbirds scored one more run, beating the Lions 6-5. 
 
The Lions had 12 total hits, while LIU had 11. Gonzalez went 3-4 at the plate, while Grumbo went 3-5. Ehlen collected two RBIs of the Lions' total five. 
 
Mallory Eckroth pitched 2.2 innings, allowing five hits and four runs, while Linnay Wilson picked up the loss after pitching 3.0 innings, allowing four hits and only one run and posting three strikeouts. 
 
Up next:The Lions will be back in action on Sunday to conclude the Golden State 27 Tournament against the University of Hawaii at noon.