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May 12, 2008

Box Score

TEMPE, Ariz. - LMU (22-29) 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 (41-9) on Monday in game three of a three-game non-conference series being played at ASU's Packard Stadium. The Lions out-hit the Sun Devils, 18-16, in game three, but were swept in the series after the loss.

Senior A.J. LaMonda paced the Lion offense on the night, batting 4-for-6 with a double and a run scored. Sophomore Angelo Songco contributed a 3-for-6 night with a home run, a double, three RBI and a run scored. Senior Michael Glomb singled home a run in the sixth inning to extend his hitting streak to 21 straight games. The streak is 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. The LMU record for consecutive games with a hit is 27 set by Don Sparks in 1988. Glomb finished the game 2-for-5 with a run scored and the 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. Left-hander Russell Lowell tossed the next two-thirds of an inning, surrendering a run on two hits and striking out one batter. Ernie Cho pitched two and a third innings of relief, giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and a walk while punching out one batter. Steve Connolly made his second appearance of the series before Mike Kenney dealt the final inning and a third for LMU, allowing three runs on three hits and striking out two batters.

Ryan Sontag, Jason Kipnis and Kiel Roling each collected three hits in the victory for ASU, with Kipnis and Roling collecting a double and a triple apiece. Brett Wallace finished 2-for-4 with a home run, a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Seth Blair dealt the first four innings for Arizona State, allowing a run on seven hits and a walk while striking out three batters. Stephen Sauer pitched two innings of relief, giving up two runs on five hits and a walk before Tommy Rafferty contributed two and a third innings while surrendering a run and striking out four batters. Kyle Brule recorded one out in the ninth inning, but gave up six of the seven Lion runs in the frame before giving way to Dustin Brader. Brader used four pitches to retire the final LMU hitter in the ninth, earning his second save of the season.

As it did in the game on Sunday, LMU threatened early but was unable to plate a run. LaMonda jumped on the first pitch of the game and doubled down the left field line before moving to third on a groundout by Glomb. A strikeout of Angelo Songco resulted in the second out of the inning before Wheeler lined out to centerfield two batters later to strand two of the 12 Lion runners left on base on the night.

Arizona State got on the board first in the bottom of the first inning, plating one run on two hits. Sontag got the ball rolling with a leadoff single to centerfield, moving to second on a wild pitch. Kipnis followed with a single of his own to push runners to the corners, setting the table for Wallace's sacrifice fly to deep left field to put ASU on top 1-0.

LMU posted the tying run in the top of the fourth inning. Singles by Ryan Wheeler and Andy Preston put runners on first and second with one out before a Kyle Spraker hit-by-pitch loaded the bases. Jonathan Johnson recorded the RBI with a groundout on the ensuing play, but LMU was unable to record a two-out hit to further the run production.

The Sun Devils regained the lead in a big way in the bottom of the fourth, plating four runs on five hits to take a 5-1 lead after four innings of play. Wallace connected for his 17th home run on a 2-1 pitch to start the inning and give ASU the lead. Arizona State got a two-out rally started two hitters later as Matt Newman tripled to left centerfield. Following a walk to put runners at the corners, Roling recorded the second triple of the inning to drive in two more ASU runs. Raoul Torrez capped the scoring run in the very next at bat, singling home Roling with a base hit up the middle.

LMU answered back with a run of its own in the top of the fifth, cutting the lead to 5-2. Songco doubled with one out before a walk put runners at first and second. A deep fly ball to right field pushed Songco to third before T.J. Bernardy collected the two-out RBI-single into left field to push Songco home.

ASU regained the four-run advantage with a run in the bottom half of the frame. Wallace once again got things going, recording a one-out double to left field. After Cho took over on the hill for LMU, Petey Paramore singled to drive in Wallace.

The Lions posted a run in their third consecutive frame, pushing one across on Glomb's single in the sixth inning. Johnson reached with a bunt single before LaMonda followed with his third hit of the game to put runners at first and second. Glomb, a native of San Jose, Calif., stepped up and promptly singled home Johnson for LMU's third run of the game in next at bat.

The Sun Devils extended the lead to 9-3 with three more runs in the bottom of the seventh inning. Kipnis doubled to left field with one out before Wallace grounded out to the right side to move the runner to third. The Lions elected to intentionally walk Paramore to put runners at the corners before ASU completed the double-steal of second and home for the second time in the series for the first run of the inning. Greg Bordes singled on the ensuing play to bring home Paramore, moving to second on a throwing error by Matt Koch in right field. Back-to-back wild pitches by Connolly plated the final run of the frame for ASU.

Arizona State added three very important insurance runs headed into the top of the ninth inning. Roling doubled and scored on a Sontag single to batters later. Kipnis followed with a triple to bring home Sontag and the second run of the frame. Wallace capped the scoring run with a RBI-groundout to first base on the ensuing play.

The Lions made things very interesting in the top of the ninth, plating seven two-out runs on six hits and two home runs to run the tally to its final at 12-10. Pinch-hitter Brett Mendoza reached with a leadoff single before Joe Vierra was called out on strikes for the first out. Justin Bunkis stepped up and was retired on four pitches via strikeout to bring up Preston. Preston drew a walk before Ollie Enos connected on a RBI-single to right field to bring home Mendoza. Pinch hitter Sean Dovel fell quickly into a 0-2 hole before a wild pitch put runners at second and third. The senior worked the count to even at 2-2 before blasting his fourth home run of the season over the wall in right field to drive in three more LMU runs. LaMonda kept the inning alive with a base hit to right field on the ensuing play, bringing up Glomb. Glomb continued his hot hitting, collecting his second hit of the game to bring up Songco. The sophomore worked a 3-1 count before connecting on his 12th home run of the season over the left centerfield wall to cut the lead to 12-10. Unfortunately for the Lions, the rally stopped there as Mendoza grounded out to third base to end the game.

The Lions will return to action on Wednesday as they host UC Irvine at 3 p.m. in the first of four home games to end the regular season this week. The Lions will host Gonzaga in a three-game conference series over the weekend, with Senior Day slated for Sunday.

Loyola Marymount University Baseball