MORAGA, Calif. – Saint Mary's Baseball lost game one of a three-game set against first-place LMU by a score 3-2 in 10 innings on Friday afternoon.
 
The expected pitcher's duel between SMC's Connor Linchey and LMU's Diego Barrera lived up to its billing, but a solo home run by the Lions in the top of the 10th would be the difference in the game.
 
The Lions used two singles up the middle and a stolen base to get out to a 1-0 lead in the top of the first, but the Gaels would answer in the bottom of the inning in similar fashion. Saint Mary's got singles up the middle from Bill Ralston and Christian Almanza, and Ralston would score on a wild pitch to tie it at 1-1. Almanza would be thrown out at third however to end the inning as he tried to advance 90 feet on another ball in the dirt.
 
Redshirt freshman Reese Kent got his first start of the season, and he delivered on the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the second inning to drive in Dalton Mashore with a single and it was 2-1 Saint Mary's.
 
It would remain that way until the top of the sixth. After a leadoff walk for the Lions, a hard-hit come backer ricocheted off of Linchey's glove all the way out into shallow left. That allowed the runner at first to get over to third with nobody out.
 
A sac fly would tie the game at 2-2, but Linchey would limit the damage to just the one run. He would go 6.2 innings on the day on 94 pitches, allowing seven hits and just one walk with four strikeouts.
 
Saint Mary's would load the bases in the bottom of the sixth, but were unable to score. The Lions would threaten in the top of the ninth with two on and one out. The Gaels would call on John Damazonio to get out of the jam, and they would do just that on a nicely-turned 6-4-3 double play.
 
But in the 10th, the Lions left-handed, left fielder knocked a solo home run over the right field fence on a 1-1 pitch to give LMU their first lead since the top of the first. The Gaels were retired in order in the bottom of the 10th by the WCC leader in saves, Merrick Baldo, who collected the win.
 
The Gaels are now 9-7 in conference play and the Lions move up to 13-3.
 
UP NEXT
Game two for the series is set for 1:00 p.m. on Saturday at Louis Guisto Field.