LOS ANGELES – The Loyola Marymount University Lions (9-17-1, 6-3 WCC) flipped the script with eight runs in the eighth inning to win their second-straight home conference series. The Lions took the rubber match from Portland, 11-5, to take two of three over the weekend.
 
After allowing the visitors to score a run on an RBI single in the top half of the second, LMU answered with three in the bottom half of the inning. Cole Roberts tied the game with a single to right field, with Dylan Dennis coming home to score on a fielding error by the outfielder. Benny Casillas and Jared Thomas came up clutch with back-to-back two-out RBI singles to give the Lions a 3-1 lead.
 
A pair of unearned runs in the fourth and fifth inning off starter Quinn Lavelle tied the game at 3-3. Lavelle's day ended in the top of the sixth following a two-run Portland homer. Lavelle went five-plus innings and allowed five runs with only three earned.
 
Merrick Baldo pitched a gem in relief, tossing three shutout innings to keep the Lions within reach for the breakout inning that would come. Baldo allowed just three hits and struck out two out of the pen to put himself in position to become the pitcher of record.
 
The eighth inning opened with Ben Grunberg reaching on an error by the first baseball. Two batters later Devan Ornelas put runners on the corners with a one-out single up the middle to start a run of 10-consecutive Lions reaching base. Casillas and Thomas followed with another pair of RBI singles to tie the game and force a Portland to pull their starting pitcher.
 
Diego Baqueiro knocked a single to load the bases. Grant Weiss walked in the go-ahead run, then Trey Becker moved everyone forward 90 feet with an RBI single. Dylan Dennis added an RBI walk and Ben Grunberg singled up the middle to score two.
 
Roberts loaded the bases after being hit by Portland's fourth reliever of the inning. Ornelas flied out to left to push LMU ahead 11-5.
 
Owen Hackman closed the door in the ninth, facing four batters with 18 pitches to get the three outs.
 
The Lions benefitted from three turned double plays to match the season high from the opening series draw against Utah.
 
LMU's season continues with 10 in a row on the road beginning Tuesday in Westwood to face the UCLA Bruins for the second time this season.