IRVINE, Calif. - Jared Thomas collected three hits including a homer, Khadim Diaw reached base four times, and Will Grimm collected his first save of the season as the Lions downed the Anteaters 7-4 on Tuesday night in Irvine, Calif. 
 
Thomas was spectacular on Tuesday, getting a night off from catching and instead getting the nod at designated hitter. Thomas singled in the top of the fourth, doubled home three runs in the sixth, and homered in the seventh to complete a four-RBI day. 
 
The Anteaters (10-2) came into the game fresh off a sweep of Arizona State and had won five in a row going into the Tuesday night matchup. 
 
Jimmy Galicia set the tone on the mound for the Lions. The senior got through four scoreless innings before loading the bases in the bottom of the fifth and turning the ball over to Cole Chimenti. Chimenti gave up a bases clearing triple, but that was all UC Irvine could muster.  
 
Galicia was staked to an early lead thanks to a pair of singles and a sacrifice fly. Grant Weiss lined a leadoff single up the middle in the top of the second before Connor Blough dropped a single into right center, advancing Weiss to third. Dylan Dennis hit a sacrifice fly to left and the Lions were up 1-0.  
 
Thomas's first big hit would occur in the fifth. Dennis singled to open the inning, advanced to second when Diaw walked, and would move to third on a single by Sam Biller. Thomas followed Biller and cranked the first pitch he saw off the right field wall, clearing the bases and giving LMU a four run advantage.  
 
After the Anteaters knotted things up in the bottom half, LMU would fight back for two more in the top of the sixth. Dennis led off the inning with an infield single, barely beating out a throw from shortstop. He would advance to second on a passed ball. Cole Roberts would reach on an error, setting the stage for Diaw to provide some heroics. Diaw laced a ball inside the third base bag for a double, plating Dennis easily and Roberts followed suit, diving across the plate for the second run. 
 
Thomas added an insurance run in the top of the seventh, clearing the right field fence that he banged the double off in the fourth. It was Thomas's second homer of the season. 
 
The bullpen continued to shine brightly for the Lions. After the four-run outburst in the fourth, UC Irvine was held in check for the remainder of the game. Logan Hurd collected the win after recording only a single out, getting out of the fifth-inning jam. David Watson hurled a pair of shutout innings before turning the ball over to Austin Schroeder. Schroeder still has not allowed a run this season.  
 
The ninth was nervy. Schroeder gave up a leadoff single and then walked the second batter. His night was over as he passed the ball along to Grimm to face the top of the Anteaters lineup. Grimm struck out the first batter he faced, then issued a walk to load the bases. He would escape with a pair of flyouts to collect the save. 
 
The Lions are back in action on Friday to open a three-game series with perennial powerhouse Vanderbilt. The Commodores host the Lions from Mar. 10-12 in Nashville, Tenn.