LOS ANGELES – Lions pitchers struck out 15 Bulldogs, Lions hitters pounded out 16 hits, and LMU clinched their fourth straight series with a 10-8 victory over Gonzaga on Saturday night at Page Stadium. 

 

Zach Kirby got the start on the mound for the Lions and threw six very strong innings. The senior struck out 11, scattered eight hits and allowed only a pair of runs. He left with the Lions holding a 6-2 lead. 

 

Logan Hurd and Jimmy Galicia struggled to get outs in the seventh, loading the bases before Merrick Baldo came in. Baldo gave up a game-tying grand slam and a go ahead run before settling in and dominating. He struck out the side in the eighth and allowed one more run in the ninth before completing the game and earning the victory.  

 

Lions hitters once again had a strong showing at the plate. Kirby was staked to an early lead thanks to a three run second inning. Dylan Dennis and Devan Ornelas both singled to open the inning up. They would both advance on a wild pitch before Benny Casillas came up and punched a single through the middle of the diamond for a two-run lead. Khadim Diaw followed Casillas with another single and Jared Thomas completed the scoring in the third with a single of his own, driving Casillas in from second.  

 

The Zags would fight back with a run in the third and a run in the fifth to take things within one.  

 

LMU responded with three more in the bottom half.  

 

Thomas singled and advanced to third on a Diego Baqueiro base hit. Designated hitter Robbie Ayers followed with a double into right field to score Thomas, but Baqueiro was cut down trying to score from first. Connor Blough came on to pinch run for Ayers and scored on a single from Dennis. Dennis would move up to second on the throw home. Three pitches later it was Dennis scoring from second when Ornelas grounded a ball through the right side. 

 

The Zags fought back with five in the seventh, but the Lions responded right away.  

 

Baqueiro lined a one-out single into left field to get the rally started. Connor Blough walked and Dennis singled to load the bases. Ornelas lined a single over a leaping shortstop to tie the game at seven. Cole Roberts and Casillas both walked to force two more runs in. Diaw reached on a fielder's choice to mark the final number for the Lions.  

 

Ornelas, Dennis, Thomas and Baqueiro all collected three hits in the victory.  

 

With the win, the Lions have clinched the series against the Bulldogs and have now won all four WCC series to this point. A win on Sunday, Apr. 16 would mark the third straight sweep for the Lions.  

 

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