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Lions `Walk-Off' with Sweep of No. 30 San Diego
May 3, 2009
LOS ANGELES, Calif. - On a day that LMU celebrated and recognized its six graduating seniors, it was fitting that senior Ollie Enos contributed the game-winning RBI-single, pushing LMU (29-21, 12-6) to a "walk-off" 5-4 victory in game three of a three-game series against No. 30 San Diego (27-21, 10-8) on Senior Day. Enos finished 2-for-4 with a run scored and the game-winning RBI. The "walk-off" victory was the third of the year for LMU, with the last coming on March 21 versus then-No. 24 Fresno State. LMU, which picked-up its fourth series sweep of the year, is now 9-2 against ranked opponents this season. With the victory, LMU remains tied with Gonzaga for first place in the West Coast Conference. Junior Angelo Songco also collected a pair of hits, finishing 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and a run scored. The home run was his 13th of the season and 32nd of his career. He is now two shy of entering the single-season Top-10 in home runs, and sits seventh in home runs in the Career Record Book. Songco has now hit safely in four straight games, while Enos has at least one hit in each of his last six. Freshman Shon Roe contributed a long-ball in the victory, connecting on a solo-shot for his fourth home run of the season. Senior Ernie Cho got the start but did not factor in the decision after tossing two and a third innings and allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks. Freshman Ramiro Carreon dealt three frames, surrendering just one run, before John Lally turned-in two and a third scoreless. Chris Eusebio, who earned the victory and improved to 4-4, tossed an inning and a third of scoreless relief. The Lions, who entered the week ranked 30th in the nation in hit-by-pitches, were hit by five pitches on Sunday. That marks the fifth time this year that LMU has been hit by five or more pitches in a game.
Austin Green led the San Diego offense, finishing 2-for-2 with two runs scored and two walks. Darrin Campbell started on the hill for the Toreros, lasting two innings and surrendering one run. Matt Hauser provided much of the time on the mound, tossing five innings and allowing two runs on three hits while striking out six. After Tyler Fick allowed a hit to the only batter he faced, Scott DeNault finished the game on the mound for San Diego, dealing an inning and two-thirds and allowing two runs, including the game-winner, to take the loss. He fell to 3-4 on the year. The Lions took an early 1-0 lead in the second inning, benefiting from some control problems from Campbell. Enos collected a one-out single to extend his hitting streak before moving to second on a wild pitch an out later. Campbell proceeded to walk Roe and hit Jonathan Johnson, loading the bases for Evan Simonitsch. The centerfielder did not have to take his bat off his shoulder to earn the RBI, walking on four straight pitches. The Torero right-hander settled-down nicely after the free passes, striking out Ryan Hawthorne on three pitches to end the threat. San Diego took its first lead of the game and of the series in the third inning, scoring three times in the frame. Green singled down the right field line to start the inning before another single put runners at first and second. Sean Nicol followed by reaching on an error charged to Kyle Spraker at third base. A run came around to score on the play, preceding a RBI-single from Chris Engell and a bases-loaded walk on three pitches to Bryan Haar. That free pass spelled the end of Cho's day on the hill for the Lions as he gave way to Carreon. The freshman did a nice job of getting out of the inning without further damage, inducing a pair of unproductive ground balls. The Toreros extended the lead to 4-1 with a run in the top of the fourth inning. A leadoff four-pitch walk to Green started the inning, as the runner moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Nicol put runners at the corners with a single on the first pitch of the next at bat before Nick McCoy contributed a sacrifice fly to bring home the run, proving the leadoff-walk costly. LMU cut the deficit to 4-3 with two solo-home runs in the sixth inning. Songco connected for his team-leading 13th of the year on the first pitch of the frame before Roe hit a two-out shot over the wall in left centerfield after back-to-back strikeouts. The Lions threatened to plate the tying run in the seventh inning as Spraker collected a two-out triple to bring Wheeler to the plate. The first baseman worked the count to 2-1 before grounding a ball to first base to end the threat. LMU once again threatened in the eighth, stranding two runners in the inning. Songco singled to start the inning before Enos sacrificed him to second base. Pinch-hitter Trevor Gee was hit by a pitch after falling behind in the count, but DeNault punched-out the next two hitters to strand the runners. Trailing by a run headed into the ninth, LMU elected to pinch hit with T.J. Bernardy to start the inning. Bernardy was hit by a pitch before Ryan Hawthorne walked to put runners at first and second. DeNault struck out Spraker on the ensuing play as Spraker unsuccessfully tried to bunt the runners over. Wheeler followed with the final hit-by-pitch of the day to load the bases, setting the table for a Songco sacrifice fly to tie the game. Enos strolled to the plate and promptly lined a 3-2 pitch to right centerfield, chasing Hawthorne home from second base to win the game. LMU will return to action next weekend when it travels to Arizona. The first game of that series is slated for 7:00 p.m. on Saturday. |
