FULLERTON, CA – The Loyola Marymount University Lions (3-11-1, 0-0 WCC) fell behind early and fought their way back but middle and late inning rallies by Cal St. Fullerton proved to be the difference in the 9-5 setback.
 
The Lions gave the ball to left handed pitcher Quinn Lavelle for the Sunday start and he responded with 4.0 innings of baseball, producing three strikeouts opposite one walk against 18 Titans batters.
 
Heading into the visiting half of the third and down by three LMU got on the board when the Titans tried a pickoff attempt at third but failed allowing Ben Grunberg to score the Lions first run.  
 
LMU added to their total in the fourth when Grunberg singled through the left side scoring Dylan Dennis and Matthew Piotrowski. On the day Grunberg went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles and scored a run. 
 
The Titans put four runs on the board in the home half of the sixth and added another in the eighth to push their lead to 9-3 but the Lions made it interesting in the top of the ninth. 
 
With two quick outs in the top of the ninth the Lions hit a pair of singles and a double for two runs but a game ending groundout to second ended the contest in favor of the Titans.
 
LMU returns home to Page Stadium to begin a five game homestand. The Lions welcome Cal St. Northridge on Tuesday, March 15 before opening West Coast Conference play with a three-game set versus Saint Mary's. First pitch for the Lions and CSUN is set for 6:00 p.m.