LOS ANGELES - LMU (21-18, 8-6 WCC) couldn't climb out of an early hole and fell to Santa Clara, 7-2, on Friday afternoon at Page Stadium in game two of the three-game WCC series. 

HOW IT HAPPENED 

Santa Clara jumped ahead early, scoring once in the first and twice more in the second. LMU starter Zach Bender struggled with command, walking six batters in 1.2 innings. A two-run single by Dylan Joyce made it 3-0 in the second. 

After adding two more in the fourth to extend the lead to 5-0, the Lions finally got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. Robbie Ayers led off with a single and moved to third on a base hit from Zion Williams. A wild pitch advanced both runners, and Joe Reid knocked in Ayers with a line-drive single to left to cut the deficit to 5-1. 

LMU struck again in the seventh when Cam Hassert launched his fourth homerun of the season, a solo shot to left-center, making it 5-2. The Lions loaded the bases with one out in the same frame, but a lineout double play ended the rally. 

Santa Clara added two more runs in the top of the eighth on a two-RBI triple from Mateo Garcia to seal the game. 

ON THE MOUND 

• Zach Bender (L, 1-1) allowed three runs over 1.2 innings with six walks and three strikeouts. 

• Michael Nunez and Gabe Maya combined for 4.1 innings of two-run ball. 

• Johnny Casale recorded the final four outs, giving up just one hit. 

AT THE PLATE 

• Cam Hassert: 3-for-5, HR, RBI, SB 

• Joe Reid: 2-for-3, RBI, BB 

• Zion Williams: 1-for-3, HBP 

• Robbie Ayers: 1-for-4, R 

• Beau Ankeney: 1-for-4, BB 

The Lions out-hit Santa Clara 10-9 but left 13 runners on base.