The Loyola Marymount University Lions baseball team (3-3, 0-0 WCC) went back and forth with the Sam Houston State Bearkats on Friday night but fell victim to a six-run fifth inning they couldn't overcome and dropped the first contest of the three-game set 14-6.
 
Heading into his second start of the season, Josh Agnew (1-1) was in a seesaw battle with the Bearkats Tyler Davis through the first four innings but surrendered four hits, a walk and four runs in the bottom of the fifth and the Lions weren't able to overcome the deficit. 
 
LMU's Cooper Uhl continues to be scorching at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a run scored. Uhl has been steady in the early portions of the season for head coach Nathan Choate's Lions leading the team with 10 hits. Additionally, Trevin Esquerra was solid against SHSU going 2-for-5 with a two-doubles, a pair of runs scored and an RBI.
 
The Lions and Bearkats were trading one-run innings through the first four but SHSU broke the game open in the bottom halves of the fifth and sixth which put the game out of reach for LMU. 
 
LMU showed toughness and grit getting three runs back in the top of the seventh to cut the Beatkats lead in half. Cole Roberts started the inning off with a walk and advanced to second off the Kenny Oyama single. Esquerra sent a shot that was inches away from being his second homerun of the season but settled for the RBI double. Matt Voelker kept the Lions rolling with his one out single which plated a pair of runs but the Lions rally stalled after a fly out and strikeout.
 
With the Lions trailing they weren't able to scratch their way any closer and were retired in order in the eighth and ninth to end the game in favor of SHSU. The Lions will be back at Don Sanders Stadium tomorrow afternoon for the second game of the three-game set with first pitch slated for 1:00 p.m. PT.