LOS ANGELES – The Loyola Marymount University Lions (16-27, 9-12 WCC) fell behind early and fought back throughout the night but couldn't produce enough runs to keep pace, dropping their final midweek game of the season 9-8 to the UCLA Bruins on Tuesday night.
The Lions
Will Grimm drew the Tuesday night start and produced two innings of four hit baseball while surrendering five runs and two walks against 12 UCLA batters.
LMU found themselves trailing by six heading into the home half of the fourth and got on the board after
Alec Cargin singled to short and
Diego Baqueiro doubled to right center putting a pair of Lions in scoring position.
Matt Voelker drove in the Lions first run when he grounded out to first giving LMU their first run of the night.
The Lions put their first two batters on base in the bottom of the fifth when both
Dylan Dennis and
Alex Lambeau worked walks chasing the Bruins pitcher from the game. After a passed ball and wild pitch put Dennis on third,
Kenny Oyama flied out deep to right for the sacrifice fly for the second run.
Matthew Piotrowski added to the Lions total with a double to left field bringing in Lambeau.
LMU loaded the bases in the home half of the sixth on three straight singles and managed to get a run on the board when Oyama beat the throw to first scoring
Tommy Delgado. The Lions got another run in the bottom of the seventh when Voelker's double scored
Julian Bury who tripled earlier in the inning.
The Lions bullpen put together a solid outing on the night, surrendering six hits and four runs in seven innings of relief.
Adam Christopher was solid in his 1 2/3 innings as was Voelker who produced two innings and gave up a pair of hits while striking out one.
LMU mounted a rally in the bottom of the ninth when both
Ryan Kawano and Delgado got aboard. Dennis hit a triple, the second for the Lions on the night, and scored two putting the Lions within one with only one out. Lambeau stepped to the plate and struck out and the rally ended with Piotrowski's dribbler to first capping the night off in favor of the Bruins.
The Lions return to West Coast Conference play this weekend when they head north to Moraga, California and pay a visit to Louis Guisto Field to play Saint Mary's. The three-game set against the Gaels starts on Friday afternoon with first pitch slated for 3:00 p.m.
