LOS ANGELES - The Loyola Marymount University Lions (7-17-1, 4-3 WCC) nearly erased an early four-run deficit on Friday night before dropping the series opener to Portland, 5-3.
 
The Pilots put a four-run first inning together off the LMU starter Diego Barrera. Portland came up with RBIs on a triple, two doubles, and a single to take the early lead through half an inning. 
 
Three of the four runs in the first were unearned off Barrera who stayed in the game for the Lions. Despite leaving eight total runners on through the first four innings, Barrera allowed just the one unearned run in 6.2 innings pitched. LMU's Friday night starter tossed 120 total pitches, struck out six, and walked five in his 35 batters faced.
 
The Lions puts some runs on the board for Barrera and the home fans with two runs in the bottom of the fourth. After Devan Ornelas singled to open the inning, Benny Casillas saw four balls in a row for a five-pitch walk to put two on with nobody out. A double-steal with one out put both runners in scoring positions as LMU's clean-up hitter did his job. Diego Baqueiro launched a double to left field to score both runners and cut the deficit in half, 4-2.
 
A leadoff walk in the fifth inning allowed the Lions to inch even closer as Dylan Dennis doubled down the right field line to score Ben Grunberg and pull the Lions within a run 4-3 with nobody out. Dennis advanced to third on a Cole Roberts single, but even with runners on the corners and nobody out, the Lions were unable to score the tying run.
 
Portland added a leadoff homer in the top of the eighth off reliever Owen Hackman to add a cushion to their lead and go ahead, 5-3.
 
The home fans came alive in the bottom of the ninth with LMU bringing the winning run to the place after Grunberg singled and Roberts walked earlier in the inning. The Pilots closed the game with a strikeout to avoid a blown save and pick up the win.
 
The two teams will return to Page Stadium on Saturday at 6:00 PM for the second game of the weekend.