LOS ANGELES, CA – The Loyola Marymount University Lions (4-12-1, 1-0 WCC) got a dominant performance on the mound from Diego Barrera and home runs by Ben Grunberg and Benny Casillas to take the first contest of the three-game set 5-2 over Saint Mary's.
 
The Lions turned to Barrera for the Friday night start and the lefty delivered his best outing of the season. In just his third appearance and first start of 2022 he put together a masterful performance. He threw 7.0 innings of two run baseball with four strikeouts against zero walks while surrendering just three hits. 
 
Barrera surrendered an inning opening homer to the Gaels but settled down and only gave up two more hits and one run the rest of the way. 
 
The Lions tied the game in the third off Jared Thomas' double to right center scoring Cole Roberts and surged past SMC on a two run homer from Grunberg. 
 
LMU increased their lead in the fifth when Casillas sent a solo shot over the Blue Monster and added one more run when Diego Baqueiro singled to left scoring Thomas.
 
The five runs would be all LMU would need because Barrera had the Gaels guessing all night.
 
Owen Hackman took to the mound in the eighth and pitched his way out of a jam and in the ninth retired the Gaels in order for the Lions first West Coast Conference victory of 2022.
 
The Lions and Gaels resume their series tomorrow night at 6:00 p.m. with Matt McClure pitching opposite Conner Roberts.