SACRAMENTO -- Loyola Marymount erased 2-0 deficits in both games to sweep a doubleheader from Sacramento State on Saturday afternoon at Shea Stadium. The Lions won the first game, 6-3, before taking the nightcap by a 6-4 score.
The Hornets held a 2-0 lead entering the fourth inning of the opener, and a 2-0 lead entering the sixth in the second game. However, Loyola Marymount put together late inning rallies in both games, including a four-run fourth inning in Game 1, and a six-run sixth in Game 2.
The two teams conclude their three-game series with a game tomorrow at 11 a.m. Sacramento State moved its record to 13-14 while Loyola Marymount won its fifth straight and improved to 13-17. The Lions swept a three-game home series with Northern Colorado last weekend.
Two highlights for the Hornets were
Madison Evers-Lyles and
Andrea Lira. Both players had hits in each game, and increased their lengthy hitting streaks. Evers-Lyles now has a 13-game hit streak, the longest by a Hornet since 2018. Lira has hit safely in eight straight games (her second eight-gamer this season), and has hit safely in 22 of 27 games this season.
Sacramento State's offense combined for seven runs and 14 hits, but it was not enough against a Lions offensive attack that had 12 runs and 19 hits. The Hornets had plenty of opportunities to score more in both games, but combined to strand 16 runners on base.
Left-hander
Caroline Evans returned from injury to start Game 2, and was brilliant through five innings, allowing no runs and one hit. However, LMU got to Evans in the sixth and eventually scored six times in the frame.
Both
Jenna Birch (second game) and
Malissa George (first game) hit home runs today, and Birch reached base safely in five of her six plate appearances. That included a home run, three walks and a hit-batter.
Nikki Barboza reached base safely in six of her seven plate appearances with two hits (one double) and four walks.
Evers-Lyles and Lira both combined for three hits. Evans,
Alexa Ortiz,
Danyelle Leone and
Kennedie Magorian all pitched for Sacramento State today. Ortiz had the start in Game 1, and Evans the start in the nightcap.
Barboza, Evers-Lyles and Lira combined for eight of the Hornets' 14 hits.
