LOS ANGELES — LMU rallied from a four-run deficit to pull within one in the fifth inning, but a two-run triple by Nick Allred in the eighth sealed a 6-3 Saint Mary's victory Sunday at Page Stadium, completing the Gaels' series sweep.
LMU starter
Avery Laine was sharp through seven innings, holding Saint Mary's scoreless after a four-run second before surrendering the decisive runs in the eighth. After retiring the side in order in the sixth and seventh, Laine allowed a single and a walk before Allred lined a triple down the right field line to score two and put the Gaels up 6-3. Laine finished with 7.1 innings pitched, allowing six earned runs on eight hits with one strikeout.
Alec Johnson entered in relief and closed out the final 1.2 innings without allowing a run, striking out two.
The Gaels broke through in the second against Laine with a four-hit, four-run inning. Allred singled up the middle to score Ian Josephson, Cody Kashimoto doubled down the right field line to plate another, and Diego Castellanos capped the outburst with a two-run single to left-center, making it 4-0.
LMU chipped away inning by inning. In the second,
Zach Wadas walked and eventually scored on a
Jordan Ortiz sacrifice fly to make it 4-1. The Lions added a run in the fourth when Wadas walked, moved up on a wild pitch, stole third and scored on a
Matt Moreno RBI single to shortstop, cutting it to 4-2.
Zion Williams scored on an RBI single by Wadas off Cooper Berger in the fifth pulled LMU within one at 4-3.
Wadas was productive all afternoon despite going 1-for-1 at the plate, drawing three walks, scoring twice and driving in a run. Moreno went 2-for-4 with an RBI. Williams reached base three times on a double and two walks.
