Saint Mary’s Delivers LMU First West Coast Conference Series Loss
Moraga, Calif. — Carlos Lomeli’s seven-inning pitching performance was enough for the Gaels to take the rubber match game over the Loyola Marymount University Lions 6–4.
Saint Mary’s took two out of three games in the series: a game one shutout win 5–0, lost game two 4–5, and game three’s 6–4 victory. SMC would hand LMU there first West Coast Conference(WCC) series loss of the season.
Heading into the final day of the series, the Gaels needed a win badly. They dropped four out of there last five WCC games, as they were swept by University of San Francisco on the hilltop.
Carlos Lomeli went 7.1 IP, allowing 3 runs, 5 strikeouts in 110 pitches. The Gaels bats made sure to back Lomeli, and scored 5 runs within the first three innings.
At one point in the game, Lomeli had the Lions 5–9 hitters batting 0–12 before his afternoon ended; that streak extended to 0–17. The 5–9 hitters finished 1–19 with Kevin Milam and Michael Hobbs coming in relief.
Carlos Lomeli was asked what was working for him against the bottom of the lineup.
“Just throw strikes, get ahead of the count,” Lomeli said. “Make them feel like they’re always behind and uncomfortable, so I can throw whatever I want.”
With the wind blowing heavily to right at Louis Guisto field, Kevin Milam and Joe Vranesh took advantage of that.
Milam swung at the 2–0 fastball delivered by LMU Lions pitcher, Matt Voelker, and sent a home-run out to right field. It was Milam’s 5th home run of the season, all coming at home. The home run made it a 4–0 lead for SMC.
Kevin Milam talked about his approach with the home run and RBI double in the first inning; he was asked if the wind played a factor.
“Yeah, with the wind like this it definitely helps to go backside,” Milam said. “My first at-bat, I went backside for the double in the gap. Got up the Second time and figured why do something different?”
Milam also talked about how he had to flip the switch, heading into game three of the series. He was 1–8, with 5k’s, but did have an RBI double.
“Heading into the game I was doing pretty bad,” Milam said. “So coming in today, just hitting the reset button. Going through all the work, trying to get some success here today, so the approach was just to stay with what I was doing. It’s worked in the past, and for two games it’s not gonna change this season.”
Vranesh was next up to bat after Milam, and he drove a 2–2 pitch to right center field. Immediately off the bat, it looked like a long fly out. With the help of the wind, the ball kept carrying and sent it out of the yard.
It was Vranesh’s 8th home-run of the season, which leads the club. Back to back home-runs gave the Gaels a 5–0 advantage over the Lions.
The WCC first place team, LMU, did not go down without a fight. WCC home run and RBI leader, Trevin Esquerra, hit 2 home-runs for Loyola Marymount on the afternoon.
A solo shot in the 4th off of Carlos Lomeli, made it 5–1. Esquerra swung at the 1–0 pitch and off the bat, it was a no-doubter.
Esquerra followed that up with a three-run home run to right field in the 8th inning. Kevin Milam came in for relief, and Esquerra swung on the first pitch.
Michael Hobbs for Saint Mary’s came into the game for the save in the 9th inning. Hobbs started the inning striking out the first two batters for LMU. After allowing a base hit to LMU’s, Kenny Oyama, Hobbs sealed the deal striking out the final batter.
Hobbs struck out the side and secured the Gaels win 6–4. The Gaels are now 8–7 in WCC play, and will welcome in the University of San Diego Toreros for a three-game set this weekend.
