LOS ANGELES – The Loyola Marymount University Lions (9-14, 2-4 WCC) got their bats going early and clawed their way back late but it wasn't enough and dropped their midweek game against the USC Trojans 4-3 at Page Stadium.
 
The Lions didn't waste any time getting runs on the board courtesy of Diego Baqueiro's bat. Baqueiro sent a towering two run shot over the Blue Monster in left field for his second homerun of the season putting LMU ahead by a pair after one inning.
 
LMU surrendered a pair of runs to the Trojans in the top of the second tying the game and gave up the lead in the top of the third when one run came across making the score 3-2.
 
The Lions had runners in scoring position in the fourth and fifth but couldn't get those runs home but were able to break through in the seventh.
 
Starting off the seventh and trailing by two, Matthew Piotrowski singled past the shortstop and was followed by Will Grimm's single through the right side putting Lions on the corners. Alex Lambeau picked up the RBI with his groundout to second getting the Lions one run closer to the Trojans. With one out and a runner 90-feet away a pair of strikeouts ended the inning and rally for LMU.
 
LMU got an inning opening double from Julian Bury in the eighth but weren't able to cash it in and in the ninth the Lions were retired in order sealing the win for USC.
 
The Lions used a total of nine pitchers for their midweek games against USC with each throwing an inning. Mason Kokodynski picked up the loss, his first of the year.
 
The Lions return to West Coast Conference play starting Thursday, April 1st when they travel to the Bay Area and face the University of San Francisco for a three-game set. First pitch between the Lions and Dons is set for 3:00 p.m.