STOCKTON, Calif. - The Loyola Marymount University Lions (20-32-1, 14-13 WCC) earned an opening-day win in the West Coast Conference Championships on Wednesday, knocking off the fourth-seeded BYU Cougars, 5-1.
 
The Lions went to ace Diego Barrera to start the game. Barrera pitched into the sixth inning, striking out eight while only allowing one run on four hits.
 
Barrera left the game with the lead after LMU scored one in the fifth and two in the sixth. Benny Casillas and Diego Baqueiro hit back-to-back doubles in the top of the fifth to put the game's first run across the plate.
 
Pinch hitter Patrick Stark knocked a one-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch with Dylan Dennis at the plate. Dennis homered over the left field wall to give LMU a 3-0 lead for Barrera.
 
After BYU plated one and the Cougars had the tying runners on, Coach Nathan Choate went to his bullpen. Owen Hackman needed only one pitch to get out of the inning and avoid any further damage.

The Lions added solo runs in the seventh and eight innings. Dennis picked up his third RBI of the game with a bases loaded walk in the seventh to push the lead to 4-1. Cole Roberts led off the eighth inning with a double off the wall. After Devan Ornelas bunted him over to third, Casillas hit the sac fly deep enough to score the speedy Roberts.

Hackman picked up his fifth save of the season, making the final 10 outs. Hackman struck out five and the only hit he allowed came in the ninth inning.
 
The Lions totaled 15 hits coming off the bats off nine players.

LMU will return to Banner Island Ballpark Thursday for the 3:00 PM game against top-seeded #12 Gonzaga.