BELLEVUE, Wash. — For the third consecutive day, LMU battled back from a multi-run deficit and came agonizingly close to a win, only to fall short again. This time it took 12 innings, a lead in extra frames, and a pair of late singles to seal the Lions' fate in a 7-6 loss to Seattle University at Bannerwood Park.

LMU entered the series finale with a grim but familiar script. Starter Avery Laine couldn't record a single out in the first inning, surrendering four runs, capped by a Tyler Horner three-run home run, before giving way to Zach DenDekker. Rather than fold, the Lions chipped away one run at a time. Jaxson Wall's double and a Noah Malone sacrifice fly made it 4-1 in the second. In the third, Zach Wadas ripped a two-run triple down the right field line to score DJ Ghiorso and Jordan Ortiz, cutting the deficit to 4-3. A Ghiorso sacrifice fly in the fifth knotted the game at four.

DenDekker was the story on the mound, navigating through a rotation of seven pitchers. He tossed 5.1 scoreless innings in relief, holding the Redhawks to two hits and stranding multiple threats while the Lions clawed back into the game. He punched out six and lowered his season ERA to 3.81.

The go-ahead run came in the seventh when JD Dunn launched a solo home run to left field, giving LMU its first lead of the game at 5-4. It was Dunn's first homer of the season and his first homer since his collegiate debut against Saint Louis in 2023.

The Lions held that advantage into the ninth, when Seattle's Brandon Stinnett singled home Ryder Manale to tie it once more. The game then wound through three scoreless extra innings before delivering its final gut punch.

In the 12th, Cooper Whitton singled, stole second and scored on a Wall RBI single to put LMU ahead 6-5. But Max Schneider couldn't hold it. Payton Knowles singled home Manale, and Kenny Rhein followed with an RBI single to score Cash Erdman, giving Seattle the 7-6 walk-off victory.

The loss dropped LMU to 10-28 overall and 2-11 in WCC play.