LONG BEACH, Calif. - Zion Williams launched a homerun in his second consecutive game,
Cam Hassert homered and made a diving catch, and
Zach Bender threw three no-hit innings but the Lions fell at Long Beach State 9-6 on Tuesday night in Long Beach, Calif.
The Lions got a second no-doubt homerun from Williams in as many games as he turned on an 0-1 pitch in the second inning and blasted it over the left field fence. Williams knew this one was gone off the bat as he settled into his trot shortly after contact.
LMU would add another in the second with two outs. Devan Ornelas drilled a ball down the right field line for a double before
JD Dunn went off the wall in the left center field gap. Ornelas scored easily and Dunn notched his first extra-base hit of the season. It would not be Dunn's only extra-base hit of the evening.
The Lions added another run in the third inning with a solo shot, this time from Hassert. Hassert has shown some pop this season and absolutely demolished a ball to the deepest part of the park, just to the right of dead center. It was Hassert's third homerun of the season.
Ornelas added another run in the fourth inning with his second homerun of the season. He clobbered a backfoot slider and deposited it into a bullpen full of celebrating relief pitchers. Ornelas has six hits over his last five games including three for extra bases.
The Dirtbags would get a pair in the fourth to cut the lead in half, but Hassert would end the inning with a lovely, diving snag to end the threat with runners on second and third. A sinking liner toward the middle of the diamond, Hassert lunged to his left, laid out and made the catch with the tip of the glove.
LMU would add another in the seventh inning. Beau Ankeney led off the inning with a single to right and advanced to second on a balk.
Nate Savoie stroked a double to the warning track in right field to score Ankeney easily from second base.
The Dirtbags would plate four in the bottom of the seventh and three more in the eight for the final tally.
The Lions open up conference play against the Toreros on Friday, March 21 at 6:00 p.m. (PT).
