March 21, 2003

Final Stats

San Francisco, Calif. - In a game that featured five homeruns, Loyola Marymount fell 12-6 to down San Francisco at Benedetti Diamond, Friday afternoon. A seven-run fifth inning for the Dons upped their record to 10-15 overall, 4-3 in the West Coast Conference, while the Lions lost their first league game, moving to 15-8, 3-1.

The Dons took the early lead as Armand Gaerlan hit a lead-off homerun in the bottom of the second inning. USF was able to get runners at second and third base, but LMU starting pitcher Vincent Cordova was able to strikeout Ryan Hanson to end the inning.

LMU tied the game in the top of the third inning, without recording a hit. Lion All- American Billy Lockin led off the frame with a walk and then moved to second base on Kevin Rose wild pitch. After Rose committed a balk, moving Lockin to third base, LMU's Joe Frazee plated Lockin with a sacrifice fly ball to centerfield.

The Lions took a 2-1 lead in the fourth inning on another sacrifice fly ball. After Sean Smith and Carl Stoeber led off the frame with singles, Jonathan Oller moved both runners up a base with a sacrifice bunt. Lion freshman James Cooper lifted another ball to centerfield, scoring Smith.

Gaerlan's second homerun of the day tied the game at two with another solo shot in the bottom of the fourth inning. The Dons regained the lead with seven runs in their next at-bat, as seven of the first eight hitters reached base in the fifth inning. The frame was highlighted by a Nick Cirbo grand slam off Cordova.

The Lions answered right back in the top of the sixth as Joshua Whitesell led off the frame with his fourth homerun of the season. After Smith and Stoeber both reached base, Oller hit his team-leading fifth homerun to get the Lions to within 9-6.

A hit batter, a walk and four singles led to three more runs for the Dons in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Cordova was charged with his first loss of the season, dropping to 3-1 on the season, while Rose (2-3) earned the victory. Kevin Annis earned his first save of the year for the Dons.

The Lions will continue their series with USF tomorrow and conclude it on Sunday. Both games are slated for 1 p.m. starts.