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Scoreboard

Khadim Diaw
Andrew Seidler
5
Long Beach State LBSU 2-2
7
Winner LMU (CA) LMU 2-2
Long Beach State LBSU
2-2
5
Final
7
LMU (CA) LMU
2-2
Winner
Score By Periods
Team 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Long Beach State LBSU 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 5 6 1
LMU (CA) LMU 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 2 2 7 10 1

W: Baldo, Merrick (1-0) L: Haley, Josh (0-1)

Game Recap: Baseball |

Diaw Shot Gives Lions Walkoff Victory

LOS ANGELES – Khadim Diaw lined a two-out two-run homer over the centerfield fence in the bottom of the ninth to send the LMU faithful into a frenzied celebration on Tuesday night at Page Stadium. The final score against the visiting Dirtbags of Long Beach State was 7-5. 
 
Diaw played the hero in a game that saw the Lions claw back twice from deficits.  
 
The Lions were down three runs heading into the bottom of the fourth inning when they plated their first run to start inching closer.  
 
Benny Casillas led off the inning with a walk. Jared Thomas launched a ball of the blue monster to put runners at second and third with no outs. Diego Baquero hit a hard fly ball to center that was dropped by the fielder and was credited with a sacrifice fly as Casillas came in to score and cut the deficit to two. 
 
LMU would go on to tie things up in the bottom of the seventh inning. Devan Ornelas continued his torrid start to the season with a single up the middle of the diamond. Dylan Dennis followed up with a walk on a full count. Cole Roberts followed Dennis with a sacrifice bunt to move both runners into scoring position. Connor Blough walked on a full count a batter later, but the pitch got away from the catcher and Ornelas came home to cut the lead to one. Dennis would tie the game up after Sam Biller beat out what would have been an inning-ending double play. 
 
After the Dirtbags scored a pair of runs in the top half of the eighth, the Lions matched with a pair in the bottom half. 
 
Diaw reached after being hit by a pitch and moved to third when Ornelas doubled over the third baseman's head. Dennis came up and grounded a ball with pace up the third base line. The third baseman made a diving effort, but the ball careened off his glove into foul territory. Diaw scored, Ornelas moved up to third and Dennis made it all the way to second. Roberts followed with a sacrifice fly to center to score Ornelas and tie things up.  
 
With a scoreless ninth in the books, the Lions needed only one for the victory. Thomas reached with his third hit of the night on a single through the right side, setting up Diaw's heroics. Diaw launched the 2-1 pitch off the camera well in center field to send the Lions home winners. 
 
Jimmy Galicia got the nod to start for the Lions and went four innings, allowing three runs (two earned) and struck out three.  
 
Austin Schroeder, Cole Chimenti and Seamus Barrett came on in relief and retired every batter they faced, with Schroeder and Barrett each notching a pair of punchouts.  
 
Merrick Baldo came on in the ninth to shut down the Dirtbags. The redshirt-junior needed only twelve pitches to dispatch the side in order. He struck out the side and then let out an emotional yell to get the crowd and his teammates jumping. 
 
With the victory, the Lions improved to 2-2 before their first road test of the season. The Lions face No. 15 Oklahoma State in Stillwater, Okla. in a weekend series from Feb. 24 to Feb. 26. Friday and Sunday's games will be available to stream on ESPN+. 
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