LOS ANGELES – Despite a furious ninth inning comeback, the LMU baseball team fell to the visiting Saint Louis Billikens 7-5 on Friday night at Page Stadium. 

 

The Billikens put up three in the top of the second and did not trail for the remainder of the game.  

 

The Lions got a very solid game from senior catcher Robbie Ayers. The Moorpark, Calif. native recorded three hits, scored a run and recorded an RBI. He was the run scoring in the second inning to get the Lions on the board after a ringing double in the right center field gap, he was the guy driving in Kolton Freeman with an RBI-double down the right field line, and he extended the game in the bottom of the ninth with two outs by beating out an infield single to third base.  

 

Graduate shortstop Cam Hassert notched a pair of hits with an RBI and a run as well, lacing a two-out RBI single just out of reach of the second baseman to plate Ayers with the first run of the evening. 

 

Freeman had two hits of his own and drove in the final run of the game with a two-out, two-strike single through the left side to get the Lions that much closer.  

 

Kenji Pallares had an uneven outing on the mound in his third start. He allowed five runs on eight hits but struck out 11. It was his first loss of the season.  

 

The Lions did get quite the relief outings from Gabe Maya and Nolan Tillit. Maya came on in relief of Avery Laine and got five outs without allowing a baserunner. Tillit followed up by striking out the side in the eighth and adding one more strikeout in the ninth.  

 

The Lions brought the winning run to the plate in the ninth, but could not come up with that clutch hit to send the fans into a frenzy.  

 

The Lions and Billikens will be back at Page Stadium for a matinee contest on Saturday, March 1 starting at 3:05 p.m. (PT). Tickets are available on LMULions.com with the game streaming live on ESPN+.