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Pinedo Shuts Down Rutgers as LMU Cruises to 7-0 Victory

CAT­­HEDRAL CITY, Calif. - LMU opened its weekend at the Mary Nutter Collegiate Classic with a complete performance rolling past Rutgers 7-0 behind a dominant outing from freshman pitcher Sara Pinedo and a steady offensive surge. The win lifts the Lions to 11-1 on the season.

LMU struck first in the bottom of the second, manufacturing early momentum when Taelor Walker and Sakora Harvell reached to set the table for Scarlett Carlson. The freshman catcher came through with a clean, two-run double down the right-field line, giving the Lions a 2-0 lead and energizing the LMU dugout. 

The Lions added to that cushion in the fourth as Rubi Lopez scored on a passed ball, taking advantage of pressure on the bases to extend the lead to 3-0. LMU continued to capitalize on Rutgers miscues in the fifth, this time sparked by Sydney Poole, who poked a single into left field to drive home Avery Francis making it 4-0.

With full control of the game, LMU put it away in the sixth. Mya Allen opened the inning by scoring on a sharp single through the left side from Walker, and moments later, Harvell reached on an error that allowed both Poole and Francis to race home. The burst capped a three-run inning and gave the Lions a comfortable 7-0 advantage.

That was more than enough support for Pinedo, who turned in one of her strongest outings of her young career. The freshman scattered just three hits across seven scoreless innings, striking out seven and walking just one while facing 25 batters. She stayed composed through every frame, never allowing a runner to reach third and retiring the Rutgers offense in rhythm from start to finish. 

At the plate, Francis, Poole, and Walker each recorded two hits, while Carlson's early double set the tone for LMU's balanced offensive night. The Lions also played clean defensively, committing no errors and stranding only four Rutgers runners.

The Lions look to carry their momentum into a two-game Saturday slate, taking on the University of Utah at 5:30 PM before closing the night against No. 13 Texas A&M at 7:30 PM.

 
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Players Mentioned

Avery Francis

#7 Avery Francis

OF
5' 7"
Senior
HS
Sakora Harvell

#21 Sakora Harvell

INF
5' 8"
Junior
HS
Sydney Poole

#3 Sydney Poole

OF
5' 5"
Redshirt Senior
HS
Mya Allen

#2 Mya Allen

OF
5' 0"
Freshman
Taelor Walker

#5 Taelor Walker

UTL
5' 8"
Freshman
Sara Pinedo

#24 Sara Pinedo

P
5' 8"
Freshman
Scarlett Carlson

#25 Scarlett Carlson

C
5' 11"
Freshman
Rubi Lopez

#33 Rubi Lopez

UTL
Freshman

Players Mentioned

Avery Francis

#7 Avery Francis

5' 7"
Senior
HS
OF
Sakora Harvell

#21 Sakora Harvell

5' 8"
Junior
HS
INF
Sydney Poole

#3 Sydney Poole

5' 5"
Redshirt Senior
HS
OF
Mya Allen

#2 Mya Allen

5' 0"
Freshman
OF
Taelor Walker

#5 Taelor Walker

5' 8"
Freshman
UTL
Sara Pinedo

#24 Sara Pinedo

5' 8"
Freshman
P
Scarlett Carlson

#25 Scarlett Carlson

5' 11"
Freshman
C
Rubi Lopez

#33 Rubi Lopez

Freshman
UTL