The Loyola Marymount University Lions baseball team (2-2, 0-0 WCC) fell behind early against the No. 8 UCLA Bruins courtesy of a five run first inning and dropped their first midweek game of the season 10-1.
 
The Lions entered Jackie Robinson Stadium winners of two of their first three games but had trouble with their command in the early portions of the contest and dug themselves a hole they couldn't get out from under. 
 
Starting the game for head coach Nathan Choate was righty Josh Robins and the junior ran into trouble from the onset. He surrendered four hits and five runs on 27 pitches against six Bruin batters without recording an out. Choate turned to his bullpen and Nathan Critchett got the call, stopping the bleeding and getting the Lions out of the frame.
 
The Lions responded in the top half of the second when Dylan Dennis doubled to right center setting the table for Matthew Piotrowski who singled up the middle for the Lions first run. With LMU on the board and Dylan Hirsch up to bat the Lions couldn't muster anymore runs as the senior struck out ending the frame.
 
LMU had trouble finding offense against the Bruins in the middle portions of the game. The Lions managed to get a runner on base in the fifth and seventh innings courtesy of UCLA errors but couldn't capitalize on those miscues to cut into the lead.
 
Freshman Mason Kokodynski was solid in his collegiate debut, scattering five hits in three innings pitched while giving up three runs against a pair of strikeouts and walks. Also having a strong showing on the bump was Holden Christian who's 3 2/3 innings didn't yield any runs for the Bruins. Christian posted five strikeouts against one walk and one hit. 
 
The Lions went down in order in the eighth and ninth to walk out of Jackie Robinson with a hard fought loss. LMU showed grit against the Bruins by battling throughout the night during each at bat but the offense just didn't materialize.
 
LMU now sets their sights on Cal State Bakersfield in less than 24-hours as they host the Roadrunners for their second straight midweek game. First pitch at Page Stadium between the Lions and Roadrunners is set for 6:00 p.m.