LOS ANGELES – The Loyola Marymount University (12-22, 5-10 WCC) went back and forth with USC on Tuesday night but runs in the fifth, sixth, and seventh proved to be the difference in the 8-1 setback against the Trojans.
 
LMU turned to Diego Barrera for the midweek start and he was solid on the bump. He threw four innings of three hit baseball while surrendering a run and striking out a pair.
 
The Lions were down a run heading into the visiting half of the second when Will Grimm sent the first pitch he saw over the right field wall for his first homerun of the season tying the game at one.
 
Alec Cargin gave the Lions a one out double in the visiting half of the fourth but LMU's offense couldn't get the timely hit to take a lead.
 
LMU gave up a pair of runs in the fifth followed by a run in the sixth and four in the seventh which put the game out of reach.
 
The Lions will end their season long eight-game road trip with a visit to Pepperdine as they return to West Coast Conference play. The three-game set against the Waves starts on Friday afternoon with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m.