LAS VEGAS – The Lions' postseason train keeps on rolling as LMU gritted out an 8-3 victory over top-seeded USD to begin double elimination play on Thursday afternoon at Las Vegas Ballpark. The Lions advance to the winners' bracket and will have two losses to win three games to secure the WCC Tournament Title.  

 

Avery Laine got the start on the mound for the Lions and put on a gutsy performance over 5.2 innings. The junior hurler gave up a leadoff homerun on the first pitch he threw and allowed another run in the bottom of the first as the Lions fell into an early hole. He settled in and threw up zeroes in the second, third and fourth innings before allowing the third run of the game in the fifth. His final line: 5.2 innings pitched, three strikeouts, six walks and eight hits. He threw 115 pitches and minimized damage in order to give the Lions a chance to win.  

 

He was helped out in the fifth inning with the bases loaded. The Toreros' Rex Watson singled through the right side and LMU used a nifty defensive play to snag an out on the basepaths. Kolton Freeman made a precision throw to first baseman Beau Ankeney, who turned and backdoored the runner at second base to steal an out.  

 

The Lions briefly took the lead in the third inning as Cam Hassert scored on an unusual play. Nate Savoie struck out swinging but the ball bounced away from the catcher. Hassert was on second base and easily cruised into third on the wild pitch, but scored with a dive when the throw to first hit Savoie in the helmet. The next batter was Ankeney, who drilled his 20th homerun of the season over the left field wall.  

 

The Lions regained the lead for good in the seventh inning. Hassert notched an infield single before Savoie reached on a two-base error by the right fielder to put runners on second and third with just one out. Ankeney just missed his second homer of the day with a deep sacrifice fly to score Hassert before Robbie Ayers punched a ball through the right side to score Savoie from second.  

 

LMU continued to add on insurance runs in the eighth.  

 

Zion Williams reached to lead off the eighth on a throwing error from the shortstop. He would steal second with a crafty slide into the bag. Freeman worked the count before punching a base hit through the middle to plate another run. After a pair of outs, Hassert notched a base hit up the middle to put runners on first and second. Savoie worked a full count and laced a single just over the leaping second baseman. Freeman scored easily and Hassert advanced to third. Ankeney followed with a single up the middle to mark the final tally and his fourth RBI of the game.  

 

Michael Nunez, Gabe Maya and Adam Behrens combined to finish the game on the mound. Nunez earned the win after 1.2 innings of scoreless relief, Maya came in with the bases loaded and got the very dangerous Austin Smith to pop out on the infield before Behrens notched the save with 1.1 innings. He struck out three with the only blemish being a hit batter.  

 

The Lions will face the winner of the Gonzaga and Saint Mary's matchup on Thursday evening. The Toreros and the loser of the aforementioned matchup will meet in the elimination game on Friday morning with the winner advancing to the nightcap.