The Loyola Marymount University Lions baseball team (7-8, 0-0 WCC) played through an hour and five minute rain delay and an early inning deficit to fight their way back to earn an 8-3 win over the San Jose State University Spartans. The Lions were aided by a big third inning and added runs in the top of the eighth and ninth to take the second contest of the three-game set on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Lions offense had trouble getting started but found their way in the top of the third off one big swing from Trevin Esquerra. Esquerra, the Lions leader in homeruns, took a Kevin Kyle offering over the left field wall for a three-run shot to put LMU ahead by three. The Lions put up four runs in the frame and never looked back.
 
CJ Fernandezees got the Saturday afternoon start for head coach Nathan Choate's Lions but didn't factor into the decision. On the day Fernandezees pitched four innings, surrendering five hits and four walks to go along with four strikeouts. 
 
Heading into the bottom of the fourth inning with the Lions up a pair of runs the skies over Excite Ballpark opened up and the game was delayed an hour and five minutes due to the rain. After the delay Fernandezees found himself in a jam with the bases full and one out but an inning ending 4-6-3 double play ended the Spartans rally. 
 
Cooper Uhl, the Lions leader in batting average, battled Kyle throughout his at bat in the top of the fifth even knocking out a light in left field before straightening out an offering for a double to increase the Lions lead to three. On the day Uhl went 2-for-4 with a double, walk, an RBI and a run scored. 
 
Choate turned pitching duties to Merrick Baldo (1-1) and the freshman responded with four innings of two hit baseball to go along with five strikeouts and in the process picked up his first collegiate victory. 
 
With the Lions up by three runs they pushed a run across in the top of the eighth and then added to their total in the top of the ninth. In the ninth the Lions loaded the bases twice and scored on a wild pitch and walk to bring their total to eight.
 
Matt Voelker came in relief in the bottom of the ninth after Josh Robins walked the first two batters he faced and got the next three Spartan batters to strike out to end the game in favor of LMU. 
 
The Lions and Spartans will play the series finale tomorrow afternoon and Excite Ballpark with LMU looking to complete the sweep. Game time for LMU and SJSU is set for 12:00 p.m.