LOS ANGELES – Loyola Marymount University took game one of the three-game set between the WCC foes 5-2. The teams will play at 6:00 p.m. again on Saturday with Conner Roberts (2-0, 3.72) going against Matt McClure (2-2, 7.58) in game two.
 
The Gaels struck first – as they often have this season – on a solo home run by Nathan Chong to centerfield, his third of the year. But that would be the Gaels last hit until the seventh when Blake Mann drove in Blake McDonald for SMC's second run of the night.
 
The Gaels would threaten again in the eighth with two on with two outs, but a diving play by the LMU second baseman to his right took a base hit away from Christian Almanza.
 
Nathan Schneider opened the game for the Gaels with three strong innings in his first start of the season. He allowed one earned run with no walks and three strikeouts with the game tied at one apiece.
 
Preston Howey came into the game with a 3.38 ERA in 10.2 innings pitched, but it just wasn't his night, as a line-drive, two-run homer gave the Lions a 3-1 lead in the fourth. A home run and an RBI single extended the lead for LMU to 5-1 in fifth.
 
Connor Linchey made his season debut with a scoreless 2.2 innings pitched with just two hits and no walks to go along with three strikeouts before Jack Snook closed it out with a scoreless ninth.
 
UP NEXT
Saint Mary's will play game two at LMU at 6:00 p.m. Saturday.