LOS ANGELES — Jaxson Wall drove in two runs with a fourth-inning home run and Jonah Johnson turned in a quality start on the mound, but LMU dropped its West Coast Conference opener Friday night at Page Stadium, falling to Portland 5-3. 

 

The Lions (7-17, 0-1 WCC) drew first blood in the bottom of the first. Wall drew a leadoff walk and eventually came around to score when Andrew Mhoon singled to right-center, plating Wall to give LMU a 1-0 lead. 

 

LMU pushed its advantage to 3-0 in the fourth when Noah Malone reached on a hit-by-pitch and Wall followed with a two-run blast down the left-field line, his fourth home run of the season. 

 

Johnson was sharp through 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on eight hits while striking out six, holding Portland's lineup at bay long enough to keep the Lions in contention. On the season, Johnson now carries a 4.50 ERA across seven appearances and has emerged as one of LMU's most reliable arms. 

 

The story behind the plate, however, was catcher Jake Lyall. Despite going 1-for-4 at the plate, Lyall was the unsung defensive standout of the night — throwing out two would-be base stealers and executing a back-pick to nab a runner at second base. Entering the game, Lyall had thrown out nine of 18 runners attempting to steal on the season, a .500 caught-stealing percentage that ranks among the team's most consistent defensive contributions. 

 

Portland's Trey Swygart proved to be the difference. The Pilots' starter-turned-designated hitter went 3-for-3 with two walks and crushed two home runs, including a solo shot in the fifth to tie the game at 3-3 and a two-run blast in the eighth that ultimately broke LMU's back. Swygart, now 3-0 on the mound, also took over pitching duties from starter Trey Newmann in the fifth, spinning 3.2 scoreless innings with seven strikeouts to seal the win. 

 

Reliever Jake Geis (0-3) took the loss but was far from the culprit, turning in a gutsy 3.1 innings of relief, allowing just two earned runs on three hits while striking out five, keeping the Lions within striking distance deep into the game. 

 

LMU will look to even the series Saturday afternoon at Page Stadium, first pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. (PT).