SACRAMENTO – Owen Hackman spun a gem in the early game while Trey Becker and Sam Biller hit heroic homeruns in the nightcap as the Lions swept an opening day doubleheader from Sacramento State by scores of 4-0 and 12-10. 

 

Hackman took the mound in the opener and worked a very efficient five innings before being lifted for a reliever with one out in the sixth. The senior right-hander recorded 10 strikeouts and allowed only a pair of hits. He only needed 71 pitches to get through 5.1 innings. 

 

Offensively, the Lions got a big boost out of the nine-hole with Washington transfer Christian Dicochea. He recorded four hits on the day including two in the opener. He notched the first hit of the season for the Lions and then came around to score the first run of the season on Khadim Diaw's RBI double in the third inning.  

 

Another transfer, Brendan Bobo, also provided some run support and generated some noise from the crowd while doing it. He took an 0-0 pitch with one out in the fourth and launched it into orbit. It cleared the right-center field fence with ease as Bobo hit his trot before he reached the first base bag.  

 

The Lions got a bit of a lucky break in the sixth inning to push another run across. Diaw, Biller and Daalen Adderley opened the frame with back-to-back-to-back singles. After a pitching change, Bobo struck out. Joe Reid stepped up and bounced a ground ball back to the pitcher who forced Diaw out at home. The catcher turned to throw to first and threw wide of the fielder allowing Biller to score from second.  

 

The Lions tacked on an insurance run in the eighth. Diaw lined a two-out single to left field before advancing to second on a balk. Biller would hit a hard grounder between first and second to plate Diaw from second and extend the Lions' lead. 

 

Blake Reilly, Michael Nunez and Seamus Barrett all combined for four strikeouts in 3.2 innings of shutout relief.  

The second game of the day could not have been more different from the first.  

 

Ryan Towers got the start on the mound for LMU and was fairly solid through three innings. He allowed a pair of runs in the fourth and was removed for a reliever. His ending line was three innings pitched, three hits, two earned runs and three strikeouts.  

 

He turned the ball over to Cole Stucky, who immediately got a ground ball double play, but could not escape the inning unscathed as two inherited runners scored.  

 

A carousel of relievers would follow as the Lions used ten pitchers in total. 

 

On the offensive side of the ball, LMU took the lead in the fourth before the Hornets rebuttaled. Diego Baqueiro laced a double down the left field line for his first hit of the season. He advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a wild pitch to open the scoring.  

 

The Lions would regain the lead in the fifth. Becker led off the inning with a walk and advanced to third on a hit and run executed to perfection by Dicochea. Diaw bounced a ball to the pitcher who attempted to get Becker at third but threw the ball off target, resulting in an all safe. With the bases loaded, Bobo laced a double down the right field line to clear the bases for three RBI.  

 

The Hornets would add on eight more runs from the sixth to the eighth inning to mark a six-run deficit heading into the final frame. After a Diaw single, Bobo would line a one-out single into left-center field to advance him. Both runners would move up on a wild pitch before Baqueiro walked to load the bases. Devan Ornelas hit a sacrifice fly to center field, with all three runners moving up a base. Biller came in as a pinch hitter and walked to load the bases again. Robbie Ayers lined a double inside the right-field line to plate two more and bring the tying run to the plate. 

 

After a pitching change, Becker hammered the first pitch he saw. The ball took a very high arc and landed just over the left-field fence for a three-run homer, sending the dugout into an absolute frenzy. The Lions scored six runs with two outs to tie the game.  

 

Jeff Heinrich took over on the mound for the ninth and tenth innings and gave the Lions a chance to win with two shutout innings.  

 

Biller once again provided extra inning heroics by way of the long ball. Flashing back to the 2023 season, Biller had two homeruns in extra innings and one in the ninth inning. He thrives in late game situations and tonight was no different. Baqueiro led off the inning with a single to center before Biller deposited the first pitch he saw over the right-field fence for a two-run shot. 

 

Ryan Mullan locked down the bottom of the 11th for his first career save.  

 

The Lions will look to complete the sweep on Sunday. As of now, the game is still scheduled for 1:00 p.m. (PT). 

 

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