LOS ANGELES – The Loyola Marymount University Lions (10-17, 3-7 WCC) got strong starting pitching, a big fourth inning, and additional runs in the fifth and sixth to propel themselves past the University of San Diego 9-5 on Friday night to take the first game of their weekend series.
 
The Lions didn't waste any time getting on the scoreboard with the hot hitting Kenny Oyama starting off the bottom of the first with a single up the middle. He scored on Diego Baqueiro's double down the left field line giving LMU a quick one run lead.
 
In the top half of the fourth the Lions surrendered a run and then worked their way out of a no out bases loaded jam by getting three straight putouts to keep the score knotted at one a piece.
 
With the score tied at one, LMU put together a five run fourth to pull away from the Toreros. The Lions got runs on a Will Grimm single, a bases loaded hit by pitch, a sacrifice fly by Oyama, and a two-run double to left by Julian Bury.
 
LMU pushed another run across in the bottom half of the fifth when Matthew Piotrowski scored from third on a balk by the San Diego pitcher. The Lions increased their lead in the bottom of the sixth when Bury sent a towering shot over the right field wall for two runs bringing LMU's total to nine.
 
Josh Agnew picked up the Friday night start and produced six innings of five hit baseball surrendering a run and striking out one. He also got his third win of the year for the Lions.
 
The duo of Owen Hackman and Alex Burge picked up the final three innings for LMU preserving the lead and giving the Lions game one of the three-game set.
 
The two teams are right back at it tomorrow night for game two of the three-game set. First pitch between the Lions and Toreros is set for 6:00 p.m. and will see Matt McClure go opposite Carter Rustad.