LOS ANGELES - LMU (22-18, 9-6 WCC) exploded for four runs in the eighth and held off a furious ninth-inning rally to defeat Santa Clara, 12-11, on Saturday afternoon at Page Stadium, clinching the weekend series in dramatic fashion.
HOW IT HAPPENED
The Lions wasted no time getting on the board in the first inning, striking for three runs. Cam Hassert singled, Beau Ankeney doubled, and both scored on a Santa Clara error and an RBI double from Devan Ornelas. Zion Williams brought in a third run on a sacrifice fly to right.
After Santa Clara got one back in the third, LMU answered in the bottom half. DJ Ghiorso doubled and later scored on an RBI single from Ankeney, pushing the lead to 4-1. The Lions tacked on another in the third when Colby Wallace plated Ornelas with an RBI single.
In the fifth, Wallace struck again with a solo home run to right, his first of the season, making it 6-4.
After Santa Clara tied it in the sixth, LMU rallied for two runs in the seventh. Ghiorso drove in Kolton Freeman with a single up the middle, then scored on a base hit by Hassert to give LMU an 8-6 lead.
The decisive blow came in the eighth. After a walk and hit-by-pitch loaded the bases, Zion Williams ripped a bases-clearing double down the left-field line. Freeman followed with a second RBI double to extend the cushion to 12-7.
Santa Clara scored four times in the ninth and brought the go-ahead run to the plate, but Alex Chavez entered with two outs and recorded the final out for his first save of the season.
ON THE MOUND
AT THE PLATE
LMU racked up 16 hits and drew four walks in the win. Every starter reached base at least once.
