LOS ANGELES – Sam Biller homered for the twelfth time this season, a group of relievers combined to limit the Gauchos to one hit over the final five frames and the Lions baseball team defeated UC Santa Barbara 9-4 on Tuesday night at Page Stadium. 

 

The Gauchos took an early lead in the top of the first inning. 

 

Biller took aim in the bottom half of the second to tie the game up. He lined a 107-mile per hour line drive over the right field wall. 

 

The Gauchos immediately responded with a two-run homerun in the top of the third before the Lions took the lead for good. 

 

The Lions put four runs on the board, all with two outs. Benny Casillas drilled a line drive single into left field to score the first one. The Lions then executed a cheeky double steal play with Khadim Diaw on third and Casillas on first. Casillas delayed a steal to second and baited a throw from the catcher, but the catcher launched the throw into center, allowing Diaw to score easily. Diego Baqueiro and Andrew Grenert drew back-to-back walks to load the bases. Robbie Ayers battled to a full count before lacing a ball through the left side to score a pair.  

 

The Lions added on in the bottom of the fourth after UCSB got one back in the top of the half. Christian Dicochea led off the inning with a single before scoring on Diaw's slicing triple down the right field line. The Lions' coaching staff then opened the playbook with the squeeze play and executed it to perfection. Casillas laid down a bunt to first base, the first baseman fielded and fired home just late as Diaw dove in ahead of the tag.  

 

Baqueiro led off the fifth with a double inside the third base bag, advanced to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch. Ayers followed up with a walk on four pitches before advancing to second and third on wild pitches. The Lions elected to go with the squeeze again with Devan Ornelas getting it down this time, allowing Ayers to score from third.  

 

After that, the Lions bullpen took over.  

 

Austin Schroeder took over in the fourth and struck out a pair in a scoreless inning of work before handing the ball over to Ryan Mullan. Mullan threw two innings, striking out a pair an allowing the last hit of the game for the Gauchos, a fifth-inning double. Mullan passed the baton to Jacob Hughes who spun a perfect inning before Jeff Heinrich struck out the side in the eighth. Cole Chimenti came on in the ninth and slammed the door.  

 

The Lions will face off against Portland in the upcoming weekend series with Friday's first pitch scheduled for 6:05 p.m. (PT).