WACO, Tex. - The LMU baseball team fell to Baylor 9-4 on Friday night in Waco, Texas despite first baseman
Beau Ankeney launching his third homerun in as many games.
The Bears got on the board first with a two-run homerun in the bottom of the first inning.
LMU got one back in the third inning with a big help from Devan Ornelas. Ornelas roped a ball into right field that banged off the wall and back past the right fielder. He easily made it into third base with his third triple of the season.
Cam Hassert would follow with a sacrifice fly to center field.
The Bears would answer with one in the bottom of the third.
The Lions had a very solid offensive approach early in the game, with the leadoff man reaching in four of the first five innings. The Bears did a good job handling the pressure and escaping relatively unscathed.
Kolton Freeman continued to be a pest to opposing pitchers on Friday night. The transfer from Dartmouth reached in his 12th straight game and continued to provide energy with his sprints down to first base when walked. He doubled inside the third base bag as well to add to his successful start to the season.
The Lions got a loud swing from Ankeney in the sixth inning. After Hassert led off the sixth with a liner up the middle, Ankeney worked a full count then blasted a ball off the scaffolding behind the batter's eye in center field. It was his third straight game with a homerun. The ball was clocked at 108 miles per hour off the bat and traveled 415 feet.
Jacob Hughes turned in his best outing of the young season with three innings of relief, limiting the damage in the fourth inning and unlucky to give up one in the fifth. The senior struck out three and allowed only a pair of hits with two walks.
The Lions added a run in the top of the ninth to mark the final tally. Nate Savoie blooped a pinch-hit single into the opposite field to bring home Robbie Ayers.
The Lions and Bears have two more meetings, with Saturday's matchup beginning at 12:00 p.m. (PT).
