LOS ANGELES – The Loyola Marymount University Lions baseball team dropped a heartbreaker to open the 2021 season against USC with a 3-2 loss at Dedeaux Field on Friday night. CJ Fernandezees was solid in his 2021 debut but the Lions early lead didn't hold up as they gave up a walk-off walk in the bottom of the ninth that proved to be the difference.
 
Fernandezees was stellar on the mound for the Lions. He threw 5 2/3 innings and didn't surrender a hit until a two out solo homerun by USC in the sixth. The Trojans didn't have any answers for Fernandezees for most of the night as he held them hitless until giving up the run. On the night he had three strikeouts and retired 17 of the 20 batters he faced.
 
LMU got into the scoring column early Friday night when Alex Lambeau started off the season with a single to right. He advanced to second on a Julian Bury walk giving the Lions a runner in scoring position. Diego Baqueiro got his first collegiate hit and RBI when he singled to center scoring Lambeau.
 
The Lions weren't done scoring in the first after Alec Cargin sent an offering out to left for a double to bring in Bury pushing LMU's lead to 2-0. The scoring stopped there as the next two batters were retired in order.
 
Both the Lions and Trojans settled in until the top half of the fourth when LMU's Dylan Dennis singled up the middle for his first hit of the year. Dennis moved all the way around to third but couldn't get home after Lambeau struck out swinging to end the inning.
 
USC put a run on the board in the sixth to make the game 2-1 and in the visiting half of the seventh LMU got turned away at some insurance when Cole Roberts was thrown out a home.
 
Roberts started the seventh with a single and was followed by Kenny Oyama's bunt single putting the pair on. After a Lambeau strikeout Bury put the ball in play but the Trojans defense caught the speedy Roberts at the plate for the second out. The rally stalled after Tommy Delgado grounded out to second ending the inning for LMU.
 
The Trojans tied the game at two with their second solo homerun of the night in the seventh. The Lions tried to respond at their second attempt at an insurance run in the eighth but couldn't get Cargin home after he drew a walk and advanced around the bases on a balk and wild pitch.
 
The Lions threaten in the top half of the ninth but Roberts was caught stealing at third to end the rally. In the bottom of the ninth USC loaded the bases with one out and got the game winning run on an Owen Hackman pitch that was called ball four, ending the game in favor of the Trojans.
 
LMU and USC are right back on the diamond at Dedeaux Field tomorrow afternoon for the second game of the three-game set with first pitch slated for 2:00 p.m.