LOS ANGELES – Colby Wallace homered and scored three runs, Noah Malone launched a three-run shot for his first collegiate hit and the LMU baseball team improved to 2-0 after a 17-11 victory over Seattle U on Saturday afternoon at Page Stadium in Los Angeles.
Wallace has clearly seen the ball well in the first two games of the season, notching three extra base hits in addition to three singles. He has been an important table setter in head coach
Donegal Fergus' 2025 lineups and if he continues to play like he has in the first two, there should be no reason to change a thing.
The Lions once again got started early as Cam Hassert laced the first pitch he saw for a base hit up the middle. After Hassert stole second, Wallace hit a tough grounder that the fielder made a sliding attempt on. Unable to field it cleanly, there were runners on the corners with no outs. Fergus reached into the bag of tricks and dialed up the double steal to sneak the first run across. Wallace would come around to score when Malone was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
The Redhawks answered in the second inning with four runs to earn their first lead of the season.
LMU answered back with two runs in the bottom of the third. DJ Ghiorso continued his hot start with an RBI double before scoring on an RBI double from Robbie Ayers.
Seattle U bounced back with another run in the fourth, but that was the last lead they would have in the matchup.
In the bottom half of the inning Ghiorso clutched up with the bases loaded and two outs. The Santa Barbara Community College transfer laced a ball through the left side of the infield to plate a pair and avoid leaving the bases loaded. Malone was the following batter and he added to the scoreboard in a big way. The true freshman notched his first collegiate hit, a three-run moonshot over the blue monster. It was also the first homer of the season for the Lions.
The Redhawks would get one back in the fifth, but the Lions would double that in the bottom half. Wallace launched his first homerun of the season, belting a solo shot over the right field fence on the first pitch he saw. The Lions would plate another run when
Zion Williams laced a double into left field, scoring
Beau Ankeney easily from second.
As was the case with the rest of the afternoon, Seattle U battled back, this time drawing the game to within a single run at 11-10 after the top of the sixth. The story continued in the bottom half as well as the Lions answered with four runs of their own to move the scoreline back to 15-10. The Lions added a pair of runs on bases loaded walks before Ankeney laced a single through the left side for a pair of RBIs.
LMU padded the lead with two more runs in the bottom of the eighth, courtesy of a defensive mistake by the defense and then Ghiorso plating another run on a sacrifice fly. Ghiorso has seven RBI through the first two games of the season.
The Lions got a short start from Jacob Hughes, who did not make it through the second inning. Adam Behrens came in and stabilized the team, getting seven outs and allowing only a single run to earn the win.
Sam Brady came in to pitch the fifth inning, his first appearance as a Lion after transferring from Kansas in 2024 but losing the season due to injury. He struck out the first batter he faced. LMU got a great effort from
Zack Mack towards the end of the game as he threw 2.1 innings and struck out five hitters while only allowing one run.
Williams made his season debut after sitting out the opener and he came through with three hits. Ghiorso and Wallace also added three hits with Ankeney and Ayers adding two apiece. Malone and Ghiorso both collected four RBI each to lead the team.
LMU will finish the series with the Redhawks on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 11:00 a.m. (PT). Tickets for Sunday's matchup are available on the LMULions.com website. The match, along with all other LMU sports, will be broadcast on ESPN+.
