LOS ANGELES – LMU softball plated four runs in the first inning and never looked back. The Lions took the opening game of the 2022 NCAA Los Angeles Regional, 4-2, over Ole Miss behind a stellar performance from starting pitcher Jenna Perez
 
Sydney Poole led off the game with a single to the pitcher on the second pitch of the day. Megan Dedrick laid down the bunt to advance the runner but instead of sacrificing a throwing error allowed Poole to score and moved Dedrick into scoring position at second. Morgan DeBord followed with a bunt single to put runners on the corners with nobody out. Georgia Blair's ground out to first scored LMU's second run as the only play was to tag Blair running down the line. Alyssa Daniell added to the early offense with a triple off the wall to score DeBord. WCC Freshman of the Year Jasmine Sofowora knocked an RBI single down the line to score the fourth run for the Lions of the inning.
 
Perez worked her way out of jams in each of the first three innings. Ole Miss left six runners on over the first three times up to the plate. Perez followed with a 1-2-3 fourth inning, while striking out two of her six batters.
 
The Rebels capitalized in the fifth inning for their first run with a two-out RBI double to score their first run on the day. Ole Miss added a solo home run in the sixth to cut their deficit to 4-2.
 
After a leadoff hit in the bottom of the seventh on the only batter Savannah Hooks faced, Perez returned to the circle to close it down. The WCC Pitcher of the Year's first pitch since returning to the game was hit up the middle to induce a double play. A fly out to the next batter ended the game giving LMU the win.
 
The Lions will return to Easton Stadium on Saturday at 2:00 PM to face the winner of Friday's second game between national seed UCLA and Grand Canyon.