Lions Put Hit on UCSB, 17-4

Loyola Marymount rode a 19-hit attack and three home runs by third baseman Don Sparks to rout UC Santa Barbara, 17-4, Wednesday in a non-conference baseball game.

The Lions, 26-7, hit four homers, knocking out Santa Barbara starter Sean Harrigan in the second inning to win their seventh straight game. Junior Kalani Bush pitched into the sixth inning to earn the win. It was his first decision of the season.

Santa Barbara took a 1-0 lead in the first inning but Sparks homered in the second as Loyola scored four times to chase Harrigan (2-4). Only two of the runs were earned as Santa Barbara committed four errors. The Lions added another run in the third, three in the fourth and three in the fifth, featuring center fielder Brian Turang’s two-run homer, his seventh of the season. Sparks had solo homers in the seventh and ninth, tying the school record. Sparks has six home runs for the season.

Sparks and infielder Rick Allen were each four for six. Sparks had four runs batted in and scored five times. Catcher Mark Grafitti, returning from an injury, was on base five times, going three for three with a triple, two doubles and two walks.

Bush gave up three earned runs, walked three and struck out three. He was relieved by Terry Seward in the sixth when Santa Barbara scored three runs. Brian Clancy finished. They held the Gauchos to six hits.

Loyola, ranked sixth in one national poll, beat Top 10 USC on Tuesday and plays host to No. 4 UC Berkeley for a three-game series beginning with a 2:30 game Friday.

Santa Barbara fell to 14-20.