LOS ANGELES – Loyola Marymount University head softball coach Tairia Flowers won her first game as a Lion Friday afternoon, as LMU beat Cal Poly in its home-opener 3-2 after a walk-off. 
 
"We definitely battled today," said Flowers. "I'm proud of the team finding a way to win. Marina did a good job settling in as the game went on and we made some good plays on defense. It was awesome for Des to come up clutch twice. Bottom line, we found a way and that's what it's about. Time to get better." 
 
Cal Poly opened the game up with a run in the top of the first, but then the Lions responded. Molly Grumbo was up first to bat for the Lions and hit a double. Megan Dedrick was hit by the pitch, and then Peyton Angulo was walked, advancing Grumbo to third base. Grumbo then scored on a wild pitch, tying things up 1-1. 
 
Both teams went scoreless in the second, and then the Mustangs added one more run to the board in the third, giving them a 2-1 lead. 
 
The Lions didn't respond until the bottom of the sixth, when Desiree Moreno hit a homerun to tie things up 2-2. Neither team scored in the seventh, forcing an eighth inning. 
 
The Mustangs weren't able to score in the top of the eight, but the Lions sealed the deal after Dedrick hit a single, and then advanced to second after Andrea Gonzalez walked, and then advanced home after a single from Moreno, giving the Lions a 3-2 win over the Mustangs. 
 
Grumbo and Moreno both went 2-4 at the plate, while Dedrick went 1-3. Moreno had two RBIs and had the only homerun of the game. Grumbo was the only Lion to have a double, the senior also led in putouts with seven. 
 
Marina Vitalich picked up her first win as a Lion, pitching eight innings, only allowing four hits and two runs and had seven strikeouts. 
 
The Lions had five total hits, compared to the Mustangs' four. Both teams had seven strikeouts. 
 
The Lions' second game against the Mustangs was canceled, but the team will be back on the field on Saturday to host Fresno State in a double-header, and then again on Sunday to host Oregon State in a single game.