PORTLAND, Ore. – LMU exploded for 15 runs on the backs of four separate homeruns to even the series against Portland with a 16-5 victory on Saturday afternoon at Joe Etzel Field in Portland, Ore.
The Pilots struck first for a pair in the second inning, but the Lions answered big time by putting up five runs in the third.
Robbie Ayers got the Lions on the board by blasting his second homerun of the season into the trees in left field. He was behind in the count 1-2 when the Pilot starter hung a slider and Ayers did not miss it.
Cam Hassert followed up with one of his four hits on the day, this one a bunt single. He would advance to third on Beau Ankeney's double. The Lions loaded the bases when
Devan Ornelas was hit by a pitch. With two outs,
Nate Savoie swung at the first pitch he saw and drove the ball over the left-center field wall for his fifth homerun and second grand slam of the season.
The Pilots would get to within one run in the bottom of the third, but that was the closest they would get for the remainder of the game.
The Lions put up six runs in the fourth inning, all with no outs.
DJ Ghiorso led off the inning with a double off the wall in left-center before advancing to third on
James Bose's bunt single. Ayers would follow Bose by lacing a ball over the second baseman into right field for an RBI single. Hassert was next up and he drove a ball down the left field line that bounced off the warning track for an RBI double. A wild pitch would score Ayers and advance Hassert to third. Ankeney followed with an RBI single of his own before Ornelas unloaded with a no doubt homerun over the scoreboard in right field.
Bose tripled in the fifth inning and would eventually score on a good read on a ball in the dirt. The play was reviewed, but Bose was clearly into the plate before a tag was applied.
The Lions would score four more in the ninth inning to mark the final tally. Hassert singled into right field to score Ayers and Bose before Ankeney blasted his tenth homerun of the season. He went down and got a pitch that was down and away and yanked it well over the wall in left field.
The Lions once again got a stellar performance from Jonah Johnson out of the bullpen. He allowed a single run while striking out six in five innings of relief. He handed the ball off to Zach Bender, who threw a perfect eighth. Bender has now thrown seven consecutive innings without allowing a run. During that run, he has allowed only one hit and a pair of walks while striking out seven.
Johnny Casale worked a perfect bottom of the ninth to close out the victory.
The Lions and Pilots will be back in action at 12:00 p.m. (PT) on Sunday, March 30 to close out the series.
