LOS ANGELES- The Loyola Marymount University softball team (23-12) is on the road to Provo, Utah as they get set to face their first West Coast Conference series against the BYU Cougars.
 
The Lions have been a staple in Division I softball this year, posting an 11-game win streak, which included a 4-0 upset over No. 23 ranked Arizona State at the Judi Garman Classic in Fullerton, Calif.
 
Friday will be the first day of West Coast Conference play, and the talented LMU team looks to get off to a great start and set the tone for a potential post-season run.
 
The Lion's starting lineup is stacked from top to bottom, as sluggers such as Sydney Poole, Andrea Gonzalez, Morgan DeBord, Georgia Blair, Alyssa Daniell, Val Pero, Peyton Angulo, Megan Dedrick, Arianna Jaurequi and Jasmine Sofowora headline their offense with a combined 24 home runs this season.
 
They currently hold a team batting average of .303, with 278 hits, 163 RBIs, and 187 runs scored. They've held their opponents to a .239 avg. at the plate, while producing a total of 234 strikeouts total. 
 
In the circle, the Lions have been fantastic, as Jenna Perez has been the blazing starter for LMU with a 10-5 overall record. She currently holds the No. 31 spot in strikeouts in the nation with a total of 132. One of the freshmen phenoms Jessica Hubbard, is undefeated in her four starts this season, compiling 36 strikeouts, allowing only 29 hits and 11 runs in 12 total appearances.  
 
Paulina Johnson, the right-handed Junior, also has pitched well for the Lions with a 5-2 overall record in 15 appearances, while Savannah Hook has been an added threat for the Lions producing the teams second highest in strikeouts with 46 total in 16 appearances.
 
The Lions have swept WCC honors for two weeks and has been selected in four straight weeks, as Morgan DeBord, Jenna Perez, and Georgia Blair have all been honored due to excellent performances. Perez has earned four WCC Pitcher of the Week honors this season. 
 
The Lions also made history this season, as they tied for 5^th most consecutive wins in program history. In addition, history also took place in the second game of a double header with the South Dakota Jackrabbits, as it marked the first home softball night game in school history.
 
The Lions will face the Cougars in the three-game series on Apr. 8-9 in Provo, Utah withThe last meeting between the Lions and the Cougars was Apr. 30 and May 1 when the Cougars took the three-game series 2-1 in conference play.

BYU is currently 24-8 overall and 9-2 at home, with no conference games played yet. At the plate, the team combines for a .312 avg. while holding their opponents to just a .242 avg. 
 
The match will be held at Gail Miller Field in Provo, Utah. You can catch the match on BYUtv.org or the BYUtv app.