LOS ANGELES – For the second straight game the Loyola Marymount University Lions got a strong starting performance on the mound but couldn't muster enough offense and fell to USC 5-0.
 
Making his debut for the Lions, Jimmy Galicia gave head coach Nathan Choate six innings of solid work. He faced 25 batters on Saturday afternoon and struck out three while surrendering a pair of runs. Galicia's only two blemishes came in the first and sixth but for the most part had the Trojans guessing and at one point retired six-straight.
 
The Lions made contact with the ball, just like they did on Friday night, but couldn't partner their six hits with any runs for the game. A late ninth inning rally had the Lions primed to break through but a game ending double-play sealed the win for USC.
 
LMU also had a chance at touching the plate in the top of the sixth when Kenny Oyama led off the inning with a single through the left side. He was moved over to scoring position with the sacrifice bunt by Alex Lambeau and then to third on a groundout. With Oyama 90-feet away, Tommy Delgado stepped to the plate but struck out swinging ending the inning.
 
The Lions were retired in order in the seventh and ran into a bases loaded no out jam in the bottom half. Logan Hurd came in to relieve Diego Barrera and he stopped the Trojans rally by recording three straight strikeouts. Hurd's poise on the mound and clutch pitching kept the Lions within striking distance.
 
LMU was held scoreless for the final two innings and will look to rebound tomorrow afternoon when they host the series finale at Page Stadium. The Lions will look for their first win of the 2021 season and are scheduled to start the game at 1:00 p.m.