LOS ANGELES — Saint Mary's (12-24, 3-8 WCC) rallied late in Friday's series opener against Loyola Marymount but fell in nine innings by a final of 5-4. 

LMU (21-20, 9-5 WCC) initially took a 2-0 lead in the contest off a home run and RBI single in the bottom of the first. The score remained the same until the top of the seventh when Saint Mary's heart of the lineup came up to bat. 

The Gaels' cleanup hitter Kenedi Lopes began the inning with an infield single to second. Two batters later, Julia McCormack hit her team-best sixth home run over the left field fence to tie the game, 2-2. 

SMC's starting pitcher Eileen Perez kept the Lions scoreless in the seventh and eighth to move the game along to the ninth. With one out in the inning, Maddie Gallagher hit the team's second clutch homer of the game to give Saint Mary's a 3-2 lead. The solo bomb was Gallagher's second of the year. 

The Gaels scored another run in the ninth on an RBI single to left field off the bat of Marissa Montelongo to take a 4-2 lead in the bottom of the frame. Unfortunately for SMC, the Lions managed to cross a run across on an RBI fielder's choice and then walked off with a two-RBI double to left field with two outs. 

Saint Mary's offense managed six hits in the ballgame. Perez pitched a complete game in the circle and surrendered seven hits and three earned runs while striking out two. 

UP NEXT: SATURDAY DOUBLEHEADER
The Gaels wrap up their season tomorrow with a doubleheader beginning at noon. Both games will be live streamed on Loyola Marymount's Youtube channel.