May 16, 2008
LOS ANGELES, Calif. -
Complete Release in PDF Format 
THIS WEEK
THE SCHEDULE
Games 53-55
LMU Lions vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs
Friday, May 16, 2008 at 3:00 p.m. at LMU's Page Stadium
Saturday, May 17, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at LMU's Page Stadium
Sunday, May 18, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. at LMU's Page Stadium- "Senior Day"
LIONS' ALL-ACCESS
Check out LMU baseball on Lions' All-Access. LMU's Tyler Geivett and a host of other LMU broadcasters will have the call. Thanks to an agreement with CSTV, more than 150 LMU Athletics events will air live via the internet again this season. Every baseball game will be broadcast over the Internet free of charge on LMULions.com.
LMU ON THE WEB
Get the latest in LMU sports news via the official home of LMU athletics on the Internet. Visit www.LMULions.com 24-hours a day for scores, stats, features, photos and up-to date news releases on every intercollegiate sport. Listen live to all the action from Lions' All-Access and follow the game through GAMETRACKER.
BRIEFLY
After playing a mid-week game at home earlier in the week, LMU will wrap-up the 2008 campaign this weekend as it hosts Gonzaga in a three-game West Coast Conference series at LMU's Page Stadium on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday's game is slated for 3 p.m. while Saturday and Sunday will both be played at 1 p.m. LMU's eight seniors will be honored prior to Sunday's "Senior Day" game.
LAST WEEK
The Lions are coming off a weekend series in which they were swept by No. 3 Arizona State on the road and a mid-week loss to UC Irvine on Wednesday of this week at home. Loyola Marymount has now lost six straight games and 10 of its last 12. The Lions surrendered 11 runs on 11 hits in the eighth inning en route to dropping an 18-1 decision to No. 9 UC Irvine on Wednesday. Sophomore Ryan Wheeler provided virtually all of the Lion offense on the day, collecting three of the Lions' four hits, including belting his fourth home run of the year in the second inning. Angelo Songco was the only other Lion batter to collect a hit in the game. LMU used eight pitchers in the game, as Mike Kenney got the start. Kenney tossed two and two-thirds innings, allowing one run on five hits and two walks before giving way to Lee Roberts. Roberts, who fell to 2-4 after claiming the loss, pitched two-thirds of a frame and gave up three runs on three hits and a walk. Ernie Cho lasted three and a third innings, giving up two runs (one earned) on five hits and a walk before handing the ball over to Steve Connolly. The left-hander surrendered a run on one hit before Chris Eusebio allowed five runs on five hits and did not record an out in the eighth. Lefty Russell Lowell was next out of the pen for LMU, getting one out and giving up three runs on two hits. Freshman Brett Williams followed with two-thirds of an inning of work, surrendering two runs on three hits. Jeremy Burrell finished the game on the bump for LMU, tossing an inning and allowing an unearned run on two hits. The series sweep by ASU marked the third time LMU had been swept in a series this season (USF, April 4-6; USD, April 25-27). LMU struck first with two runs in the top of the first inning, but was unable to keep No. 3 Arizona State at bay, as the Sun Devils earned a 9-5 victory on Saturday. Songco contributed the big hit for LMU, blasting a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. Songco finished the game 1-for-4 with the home run and three RBI. Freshman Matt Koch collected multiple hits in the loss, batting 2-for-4. Freshman Martin Viramontes pitched the first six innings for LMU, allowing nine runs on 13 hits and three walks while striking out six batters before taking the loss and falling to 3-5. LMU scored its only three runs in the seventh inning and stranded eight runners en route to falling 11-3 to No. 3 Arizona State on Sunday. Senior Michael Glomb batted 2-for-4 with a run scored and a RBI in the loss. A.J. LaMonda and Songco collected the other two RBI for LMU, with Songco notching his 13th double as well. Sophomore Xavier Esquivel pitched the first three and a third innings for LMU, allowing six runs on six hits and three walks before taking his fifth loss of the year. LMU scored seven runs in the top of the ninth inning, but the rally fell just short as the Lions dropped a 12-10 decision to No. 3 Arizona State on Monday in game three of the series. The Lions out-hit the Sun Devils, 18-16, in game three, but succumb to the series sweep. LaMonda paced the Lion offense on the night, batting 4-for-6 with a double and a run scored. Songco contributed a 3-for-6 night with a home run, a double, three RBI and a run scored. Glomb finished the game 2-for-5 with a run scored and a RBI. Senior Nate Keadle got the start for the Lions, lasting three and two-thirds innings and allowing five runs on seven hits and a walk while striking out two batters before being tagged with his fifth loss of the season.
SALUTING THE SENIORS
Sunday's season-finale against Gonzaga will also mark the final appearance in Lion uniforms for eight LMU players. Listing them alphabetically, Loyola Marymount will bid adieu to Andy Beal, Justin Bunkis, Steve Connolly, Sean Dovel, Michael Glomb, Nate Keadle, A.J. LaMonda and Andy Preston. The seniors will be saluted prior to Sunday's game, which is scheduled to begin at 1:00 p.m.
LMU ACCORDING TO BOYD'S WORLD
According to Boyd's World, the Lions currently rank first in Strength of Schedule (SOS), which takes into account the results and success of LMU's opponents this season, 48th in Iterative Strength Rating (ISR), which is essentially how tough a schedule looks today based on past results of the opponents and how LMU has fared thus far, and 77th in Ratings Percentage Index (RPI), the official NCAA measure of team quality used by the tournament selection committee. Gonzaga ranks 22nd in SOS, 33rd in ISR and 93rd in RPI.
FRIDAY STARTER
Right-hander Martin Viramontes will make his 10th start of the season when LMU takes on Gonzaga on Friday afternoon. Viramontes brings a 3-5 record and a 6.10 ERA with 54 strikeouts into the first game of the series. He took the loss in his last start, lasting six innings and allowing nine runs on 13 hits and three walks while striking out six hitters as the Lions fell to No. 3 Arizona State, 9-5, on May 10. The freshman has recorded victories over Santa Clara on May 2, San Diego State on March 8 and then-No. 12 Cal on March 15. Viramontes struck out a career-high 13 batters in his collegiate debut on March 1 vs. UC Santa Barbara.
SATURDAY STARTER
Senior right-hander Andy Beal will make his 12th start of the season, and first since April 25, in game two of the series against the Bulldogs. Beal brings a 4-5 record and a 5.89 ERA into the game, last earning a decision and a loss on April 25 as LMU fell to No. 9 San Diego by a count of 11-4. In that start, Beal lasted five and a third innings and allowed seven runs on eight hits and one walk while striking out two batters. In his 11 previous starts, the senior has recorded a 4-5 record and a 6.55 ERA (40 er in 55.0 ip). Beal has recorded victories over Cal State Northridge (March 20), USC (March 25), Portland (March 30) and Saint Mary's (April 12).
SUNDAY STARTER
Senior right-hander Nate Keadle will make his eighth start of the season, and third in as many appearances, in the final game of the 2008 season. Keadle brings a 1-5 record and a 5.32 ERA into the game, taking the loss in LMU's 12-10 loss to No. 3 Arizona State on May 12. In that start, Keadle lasted three and two-thirds innings and allowed five runs on seven hits and one walk while striking out two batters. In his six previous starts, the senior has recorded a 1-5 record and a 6.82 ERA (23 er in 30.1 ip). Keadle earned his only victory of the season on April 22 at UC Riverside as he tossed seven innings and allowed one run on four hits and struck out four batters.
ALL GOOD THINGS MUST END...
Senior Michael Glomb recently completed a career-long and an LMU season-high 21-game hitting streak, going hitless against No. 9 UC Irvine on May 14. The streak was the longest by a Lion since Eric Farris hit in 25 straight games from the end of the 2006 season into the beginning of 2007. Glomb, a native of San Jose, Calif., batted .372 (32-for-86) with nine multiple-hit games, 15 runs scored, 12 RBI, two doubles, two home runs and six walks over the span. The streak was 10 games better than his previous high for this season (11, March 15-30), and nine longer than his previous career-high set last year (12).
WHO'S THE BOMB? GLOMB.
Following his career-long 21-game hitting streak, senior Michael Glomb currently finds himself as a team-leader in various offensive categories this year. In WCC games alone, Glomb leads the team in stolen bases (3), is second in runs scored (13), home runs (2) and hit-by-pitches (3), third in hits (21), RBI (10) and total bases (31), and fifth in slugging percentage (.413). In all games this season, Glomb ranks second in hit-by-pitches (10), third in runs scored (33), fourth in on base percentage (.388), batting average (.318) and hits (56), and fifth in RBI (22), home runs (2) and stolen bases (4).
KEEP THE "WHEELS" TURNING
Sophomore Ryan Wheeler has been on a tear nearly all of the 2008 campaign. The first baseman has collected a team-high tying 20 multiple hit games and is second with eight multiple-RBI games. He currently leads the team in batting average (.344), doubles (19) and triples (1), is second in slugging percentage (.516), on base percentage (.402), runs scored (34), hits (66), RBI (39), home runs (4), total bases (99) and stolen bases (5), is fourth in walks (16), and fifth in hit-by-pitches (6). In addition to his impressive numbers with two out in an inning (see "Tough with Two Out"), Wheeler is also hitting .382 (47-for-123) against right-handed pitching, reaching base at a .432 clip (19-for-44) as a leadoff hitter in an inning, batting .360 (36-for-100) with runners on base, .377 (23-for-61) with runners in scoring position, .429 (3-for-7) with the bases loaded, and .789 (15-for-19) with a runner on third base and less than two out. In conference games alone, Wheeler ranks first in RBI (18), doubles (10) and stolen bases (3), second in batting average (.373), slugging percentage (.567), runs scored (13), hits (25), total bases (38), walks (7) and on base percentage (.436), and is third in home runs (1).
LMU IN THE WCC
LMU currently sits in sixth place, toting a 6-12 record, after six weeks of conference play. Entering the weekend, the Lions rank seventh overall in batting average (.291) amongst the eight teams. In other offensive categories, LMU is third in doubles (113), sixth in hits (532), strikeouts (352) and stolen bases (38), seventh in on base percentage (.366), slugging percentage (.407), runs scored (299), home runs (30) and RBI (253), and eighth in triples (5) and walks (162). The LMU pitching staff ranks seventh overall in ERA, toting a 6.09 mark. In other categories, the Lions rank fourth in strikeouts (319), fifth in walks (193), and eighth in batting average against (.315), hits (564), runs (355), earned runs (303) and saves (5). In conference games alone this year, LMU places second in stolen bases (18), third in doubles (44), fourth in triples (3), fifth in strikeouts (122), sixth in on base percentage (.355), slugging percentage (.398), runs scored (101) and hits (180), seventh in RBI (87), and eighth in home runs (8) and walks (53). On the pitching side, LMU places fifth in strikeouts (99), sixth in walks (68) and saves (1), and seventh in ERA (6.88), batting average against (.337), hits (219), runs (141) and earned runs (120).
LIONS IN THE WCC
Individually in the WCC, Ryan Wheeler ranks 15th in batting average (.344). Wheeler is first in doubles (19), while Angelo Songco ranks third in slugging percentage (.626), fourth in home runs (12) and seventh in total bases (112). A.J. LaMonda is 10th in hits at 69. On the pitching side, Xavier Esquivel is sixth in saves (3), while Chris Eusebio (23), Ernie Cho (23) and Lee Roberts (22) sit the in the eight through 10 spots in appearances. In conference games alone, Songco is seventh in batting average (.400), fifth in on base percentage (.494), seventh in walks (10) and doubles (7), and eighth in slugging percentage (.646). Wheeler is first in doubles (10) and seventh in RBI (18). On the pitching side in conference games alone, Eusebio is fifth in appearances with eight.
A LEADER IN LaMONDA
Senior A.J. LaMonda has recorded a team-high tying 20 multiple-hit games this season, including the only five-hit game for the Lions this year, and three of LMU's nine four-hit games. LaMonda collected the career-high five hits against USD on March 9, finishing 5-for-6 with two runs scored, a triple and four RBI. Hitting out of the leadoff spot on the day, he became the first Lion to collect five hits in a game since Billy Lockin did so on March 24, 2002 versus San Francisco. The senior outfielder currently ranks first in runs scored (37), hits (69) and triples (1), second in stolen bases (5), third in batting average (.330), on base percentage (.401), doubles (14), total bases (91), walks (19) and hit-by-pitches (7), fourth in slugging percentage (.435) and RBI (27), and fifth in home runs (2). In conference games alone, LaMonda ranks first in runs scored (14), second in hit-by-pitches (3), third in slugging percentage (.420), hits (21), doubles (5), home runs (1) and walks (6), and fourth in batting average (.304), total bases (29) and on base percentage (.385).
SWEET-SWINGING SONGCO
After a stellar freshman campaign, sophomore Angelo Songco has continued to be one of the better Lion hitters in 2008. Songco currently ranks first on the team in slugging percentage (.626), on base percentage (.421), RBI (41), home runs (12), walks (21) and total bases (112), is second in batting average (.341) and doubles (15), third in hits (61), fourth in runs (30), and fifth in hit-by-pitches (6). In conference games alone, Songco ranks first in batting average (.400), on base percentage (.494), hits (26), home runs (3), slugging percentage (.646), total bases (42) and walks (10), is second in doubles (7), RBI (16) and hit-by-pitches (3), and is fifth in runs scored (11).
TOUGH WITH TWO OUT
LMU scored 10 of its 11 runs with two out in the game against UC Irvine on April 29. The Lions as a team are batting .293 (179-for-611) with two out in an inning, led by Will Dugoni's mark of .500 (8-for-16) in that situation. Junior Ollie Enos bats .389 (14-for-36) in that situation, while Ryan Wheeler is 24-for-64 (.375). LMU as a team has collected 94 two-out RBI, guided by Angelo Songco (20), Wheeler (15) and A.J. LaMonda (11). With runners on base and two out in an inning, LMU is batting .272 (106-for-389) with 86 RBI, 16 doubles, a triple and four home runs. Dugoni leads the team in the category at .455 (5-for-11), followed by Enos (.440, 11-for-25) and Wheeler (.378, 17-for-45). Songco leads the team in RBI in that situation, collecting 16. Finally, with runners in scoring position and two out, the Lions are 72-for-273 (.264) with 11 doubles, a triple, and three home runs. Enos and Dugoni lead the team with .500 averages (10-for-20 and 3-for-6, respectively), followed by Wheeler (.448, 13-for-29). Songco has collected a team-leading 16 RBI in that situation, followed by Wheeler at 13 and LaMonda at 11.
STELLAR SITUATIONAL STATISTICS
In addition to the success with two outs in an inning, LMU is posting some impressive numbers in a variety of other situations this year. The Lions are batting .306 (274-for-895) with runners on base, .419 (26-for-62) with the bases loaded (including two grand slams), and are putting the leadoff hitter in an inning on base at a .338 clip (155-for-459). The Lions post a mark of .587 (84-for-143) in at bats with a runner on third and less than two outs in a frame.
LEAVE `EM FOR THE RELIEF CORPS
A total of 109 inherited runners have been left for LMU relievers this season, with 42 (.385) coming around to score. Lee Roberts leads the team in sheer number of inherited runners, taking over 22 on the year. Of those 22, Roberts has allowed 12 to come around to score. Junior Ernie Cho has inherited 21, allowing only six to plate in 2008. Sophomore Xavier Esquivel has inherited eight runners, allowing only two of the eight to come home. Senior Nate Keadle has taken-on 13 runners, allowing five to reach home safely. Freshman Chris Eusebio has allowed five of his 12 inherited runners to score, while left-hander Russell Lowell has stranded nine of his 14 inherited runners in 2008.
PRESS ON, PRESTON
Senior first baseman and designated hitter Andy Preston currently finds himself amongst the team leaders in 2008, ranking second in walks (20) and home runs (4), third in RBI (28) and hit-by-pitches (7), and fifth in slugging percentage (.426) and runs scored (27). Preston had one of the best games of all the Lions on March 9 vs. USD. The left-handed hitter batted 4-for-6 with a career-high six RBI, four of which came on a grand slam in the six-run ninth inning. Preston became the first hitter to collect five or more RBI in a game since Elvis Herrera collected five on April 13, 2007 at Saint Mary's. In addition, the Hutchinson, Kan. native was the first hitter to hit a grand slam since A.J. LaMonda did so on May 29, 2005 versus Pepperdine. Angelo Songco has since also connected on a grand slam this season, doing so on April 8 vs. No. 16 Long Beach.
SAVE THE BEST FOR LAST
LMU has outscored opponents 38-18 in ninth innings or later this season. Included in that total is a 32-18 advantage in the ninth and 6-0 mark in extra innings. The Lions also hold an advantage over their opponents in the fifth (39-35) and seventh (50-35) innings.
THE RIGHT TIME TO TURN IT ON
Senior Sean Dovel finds himself in the top-five of seven major offensive categories in West Coast Conference games alone this season. Dovel ranks first in triples (1), third in doubles (5), fourth in slugging percentage (.414), and fifth in batting average (.293), hits (17), RBI (8) and total bases (24).
THE BULLDOG BULLETIN
The Gonzaga Bulldogs, coached by Mark Machtolf (5th year at GU), are 28-22 (8-9 in WCC), last winning, 6-5, on May 3 versus San Francisco. Top hitters for Gonzaga include Drew Heid (.382, 39 runs scored, 11 doubles, two home runs, 14 RBI), Ryan Wiegland (.367, 35 runs scored, 18 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 62 RBI) and Evan Wells (.356, 49 runs scored, six doubles, a triple, 36 RBI). Matt Fields leads the pitching staff, toting a 5.07 ERA and a 7-3 record in 11 starts and 71.0 innings pitched. Cody Martin leads the team in relief appearances and ERA, contributing 52.2 innings and an ERA of 2.39 over 25 appearances. Martin also claims the team-lead in saves with eight, while four other pitchers have one on the year for the Bulldogs. In 2007, Gonzaga finished 33-25 overall, 15-6 (2nd) in the West Coast Conference.
THE GRADUATES
Congratulations to the Lions who graduated May 10th:
Andy Beal, sociology
Justin Bunkis, film and television
Steve Connolly, English
Sean Dovel, business
Nate Keadle, business
AND THE "IGGY" GOES TO...
The Third Annual Iggy Awards were handed out on Monday, April 21. LMU baseball took home one of the awards handed out on the night, with junior Ollie Enos nabbing the "Strength and Conditioning" award. Volleyball's Heather Hughes took home Female Athlete of the Year, while freshman Tibor Forai claimed Male Athlete of the Year recognition for men's water polo.
STELLAR WEEK AGAINST SAINT MARY'S
Sophomore Ryan Wheeler batted .563 (9-for-16) over the week of April 7, helping the Lions to a win over No. 16 Long Beach State on Tuesday of that week and West Coast Conference-foe Saint Mary's on that Saturday. In addition to the .563 clip, Wheeler amassed four runs scored, seven doubles, two walks, seven RBI and 16 total bases to the tune of a 1.000 slugging percentage and a.611 on base percentage. Wheeler finished the three-game series against Saint Mary's batting .583 (7-for-12) with four runs scored, six doubles, two walks, 13 total bases and seven RBI. He reached base at a .643 clip and recorded a slugging percentage of 1.083. Fellow sophomore Angelo Songco batted .444 (8-for-18) over the same four-game span. In addition to the .444 clip, Songco amassed six runs scored, two home runs, two doubles, two walks, eight RBI and 16 total bases to the tune of a .889 slugging percentage and a .500 on base percentage. Songco finished the three-game series against Saint Mary's batting .538 (7-for-13) with five runs scored, two doubles, a home run, 12 total bases and two walks. He reached base at a .600 clip and slugged .923. He finished 1-for-5 with a grand slam (his first of his career) and four RBI on Tuesday against LBSU.
WHEELER NAMED WCC POW
Sophomore Ryan Wheeler was named WCC Player of the Week for the week ending March 31. The selection was the first of the season for LMU, and the first of Wheeler's career. Wheeler batted .545 (12-for-22) over the five games played, serving a crucial role in the Lions' 5-0 week. In addition to the .545 clip, Wheeler amassed seven runs scored, three doubles, a triple, a walk, a hit-by-pitch, six RBI, a stolen base and 17 total bases to the tune of a .773 slugging percentage and a .560 on base percentage. Wheeler hit safely in all five games over the span, collecting multiple hits in all but one.
THE AZTEC KINGS
Seniors A.J. LaMonda, Andy Beal and Andy Preston were named to the 2008 Aztec Invitational All-Tournament Team, it was announced March 10 at the conclusion of the five-day event. LaMonda was also named Tournament MVP as he helped lead the Lions to a 3-1 record and the Aztec Invitational Tournament Championship. LaMonda and Santa Clara's Ryan Conan shared the honor at first base. The Orange County, Calif. native batted .474 (9-for-19) with three runs scored, a triple, a walk, a stolen base and nine RBI over the four-game span. Preston batted .389 (7-for-18) with a double, four runs scored, a grand slam and seven RBI. Beal pitched six innings, allowing one run on three hits and three walks while striking out eight batters.
JACK TAKES THE HILL
Loyola Marymount baseball honored one of its newest and most loyal fans when Jack Steinberg tossed out the ceremonial first pitch to kick-off the 2008 season at Page Stadium on February 29. Jack was issued a Lion jersey earlier in the week, and was ready and excited to throw out the pitch on Friday. In a recent writing to the Westchester/Playa Del Rey Hometown News entitled "Follow the Crack of the Bat", Jack's mother, Ivey, detailed Jack's story and how he became associated with LMU baseball. To read the heartfelt column, please visit the following link on the baseball page at lmulions.com: www.lmulions.cstv.com/sports/m-basebl/spec-rel/021408aag.html
LMU ON OPENING DAY
Since 2001, LMU has been victorious in five of its eight games on Opening Day, falling this season to Sac State, 11-7. The Lions defeated Cal State Northridge 7-3 in 2001's opener at Page Stadium before defeating UC Santa Barbara on the road to start the 2002 campaign. LMU failed to make it three-straight in 2003, dropping a one-run decision to Cal to open the year. LMU was back to its winning ways in 2004, knocking-off UC Riverside, 5-4, and getting revenge against Cal with a one-run victory in 2005. Starting the 2006 season on the road in Arizona, LMU dropped the first game of the year, 10-5, before rebounding last season with a 9-5 victory over Sac State.
WALLACE WATCHES SONGCO
Outfielder Angelo Songco was named to the 2008 Brooks Wallace Award Preseason Watch List, it was announced in early January. Songco, the reigning WCC Freshman of the Year, 2008 preseason All-Conference selection and 2007 Freshman All-American, earned a spot the prestigious list that will eventually determine the Player of the Year. The left-hand hitting outfielder led LMU in doubles (22), RBI (33), slugging percentage (.528), sacrifice flies (7) and outfield assists (8) last season. In addition, he tied for the lead in triples (3) and was second in batting average (.321), runs scored (36), home runs (4), total bases (102) and walks (30). In WCC play alone, he led the team in batting average (.392), hits (29), doubles (10), slugging percentage (.635) and on-base percentage (.464). The Wallace Award is presented to the nation's top collegiate baseball player in conjunction with the College Baseball Hall of Fame's annual induction festivities. The 2008 award banquet will be held Thursday, July 3, in the United Spirit Arena on the campus of Texas Tech.
WCC PRESEASON POLL
LMU was picked to finish fourth in the WCC 2008 preseason baseball poll, as selected by conference coaches. University of San Diego was chosen to repeat as West Coast Conference champion after receiving the maximum number of points, garnering all seven possible first-place votes and 49 overall points to take first place in the listing. Pepperdine was picked second with 42 overall points, while Santa Clara received the remaining first place vote and checked in at No. 3 in the poll with 32 points. LMU edged out Gonzaga for the fourth place spot, as the Lions received 29 points and the Zags garnered 28 points to grab the No. 5 spot. San Francisco was tabbed for a sixth place finish with 24 points, while Portland and Saint Mary's were picked to finish seventh and eighth with 12 points and eight points, respectively.
