DESPITE JOYCE'S STRONG OUTING LMU PREVAILS SCORING GO-AHEAD RUNS LATE
2/3/2007
LOS ANGELES, CALIF. - For the second straight day, the Sacramento State bullpen could not continue the work of its starter, surrendering seven runs in the late stages on Saturday afternoon and falling 8-1 to Loyola Marymount at Page Stadium.
In his first start since April 15 of last year, Sacramento State left-hander Mick Joyce allowed just one unearned run on six hits in 5.2 innings of work. The senior, who has spent the last year recovering from injury, also produced three strikeouts.
The teams headed into the bottom of the seventh inning tied at 1-1, but the Lions were able to score their go-ahead run and some with senior right-hander Cyrus Sarraf on the mound. A walk and back-to-back doubles led to Loyola Marymount's first two runs of the inning. DeAndre Miller, responsible for the two-run double, later scored in the inning off Eric Farris' single.
With a 4-1 lead, the Lions (2-0) built on that edge in the bottom of the eighth. Scoring four runs on four hits and one Hornet error.
Like the first game of the series, Sacramento State (0-2) again took the early lead on Saturday. Sophomore first baseman Gabe Jacobo, who finished the game a career-best 3-for-4 including his first career triple, led off the inning with a double to right field. Later in the inning, all-conference third baseman David Flores' RBI-single scored Jacobo from third.
Flores finished the game 3-for-4 as well, but the rest of the lineup struggled, with Montana Dye and Travis Kirkman picking up the Hornets only other two hits.
Left-hander Daniel Macias pitched 5.0 innings for the Lions and held Sacramento State to one run on four hits, while striking out six. Kevin Hernandez earned the win in relief after pitching two scoreless innings.
Sarraf took the loss for Sacramento State, allowing three runs on two hits in 0.1 innings of work. Freshman Paul Jinkens also appeared on the mound for the Hornets, recording the last two outs of the game.
Miller finished the game 2-for-4 with two RBIs, while Farris was 3-for-5 with one RBI to lead LMU. Left-fielder Angelo Songco added a 2-for-4, two-RBI performance.
The series ends tomorrow with first pitch scheduled for 12 p.m. The game can be followed on www.lmulions.com. Freshman right-hander Trevor York is expected to start for the Hornets.
