SEATTLE – The Loyola Marymount University Lions (5-3, 0-0 WCC) got tremendous pitching throughout and matched that with timely hitting to grind out a 2-1 win in extras over the Huskies.
CJ Fernandezees got the series opening start for head coach
Nathan Choate and responded with another solid showing on the hill. He was responsible for five innings of four hit baseball with three strikeouts. Fernandezees put together a pair of 1-2-3 innings and pitched himself out of a bases loaded one out jam in the third to keep the score knotted at zero.
Fernandezees started the sixth with a pair of walks and gave way to
Holden Christian. He was able to get the first batter out on strikes but then issued a walk to load the bases. With the bases full Christian settled down and got a punch out and ground out to keep the score tied.
Christian was superb for the Lions, throwing three innings and getting a season-high seven strikeouts. Washington batters didn't know what to do when he was on the hill and he ended his night striking out the side in the eighth.
The combination of
Sean Paquet and
Josh Agnew put the finishing touches on the Huskies pitching around jams in the ninth and tenth to preserve the victory.
The Lions were active on the bases all night long against Washington. LMU had runners on base in every inning but the ninth and finally broke through with a run in the fifth when
Alec Cargin drew a bases loaded walk to score
Cole Roberts from third.
The Lions broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the tenth when Cargin started off the inning getting to second.
Dylan Hirsch sacrificed him over to put the go ahead run 90-feet away. With
Alex Lambeau at the dish, Washington pitched Stefan Raeth threw a pitch that guy by the catcher putting the Lions ahead by a run heading into the bottom of the tenth.
Washington opened their half of the tenth with a double and got as close to third but Agnew got a fly out and a pair of strikeouts to end the game in favor of LMU.
LMU and Washington are right back on the diamond at Husky Ballpark tomorrow evening for the second game of the three-game set with first pitch slated for 5:00 p.m.
