MORAGA – The Loyola Marymount University Lions (18-27, 11-12 WCC) got homeruns from
Alec Cargin and
Matt Voelker plus a strong outing on the mound from
Matt McClure to power past Saint Mary's 6-4 on Saturday afternoon.
The Lions found themselves trailing by a pair of runs after the first three innings were played, giving up a run on a sacrifice fly in the first and a run scoring double in the third before they got on the board in the fourth.
McClure drew the Saturday afternoon starting assignment for the Lions and provided 5 1/3 innings of strong pitching. He struck out two while issuing four walks and a pair of runs against 22 Saint Mary's batters.
LMU got on the board in the visiting half of the fourth, loading the bases and setting the stage for
Cole Roberts to provide the Lions with runs. Roberts sent the fourth pitch he saw in the at bat down the right field line for a double bringing in both Cargin and Voelker to tie the game at two.
The Lions pulled ahead in the visiting half of the sixth when Cargin sent a line drive well over the right field wall for his team-leading sixth homerun of the season and got a little insurance in the top of the seventh from
Matthew Piotrowski.
Piotrowski doubled to left center scoring
Kenny Oyama who singled earlier in the frame which pushed the Lions lead to two.
Up by a pair and leading off the top of the eighth, Cargin was hit by the third pitch he saw in the at bat. Cargin for the afternoon was 2-for-4 with a homerun, single, an RBI and scored three runs. Next up was Voelker who added to the Lions run total with his second homer of the season, giving LMU a lead they wouldn't give up.
The Lions ran into trouble in the home half of the eighth by surrendering a pair of runs but managed to get out of the frame with a nice play by
Alex Lambeau who's throw to first came just in time for the third out.
Holden Christian came on in relief in the bottom of the eighth and got the third out to close the frame. He came back out in the ninth and worked a one, two, three inning for his fourth save of the year.
LMU will go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon when the series concludes with the Gaels. First pitch between LMU and Saint Mary's is slated for 1:00 p.m. at Louis Guisto Field.
