Lions Rap 28 Hits : Loyola Takes 2 From St. Mary’s

If fielders were allowed to play on the other side of the outfield fence, Tim Williams’ hitting slump might still be alive today.

Fortunately for Loyola Marymount’s gifted freshman outfielder, no one could have reached his high rising line drive over the right field wall on Saturday in the second game of the Lions’ double-header sweep over visiting St. Mary’s.

Williams’ third-inning, three-run blast highlighted Loyola’s 12-6 romp in the nightcap.

The ringing liner was sweet music to the ears of Williams, who in recent weeks has seen more than his share of hard smashes end up snared inside an opponent’s leather.

“I’ve had about a dozen hits taken away like that this year,” said Williams, a highly touted 18-year-old, who was struggling with a .250 batting average and only five extra-base hits until Loyola entered the weekend series with St. Mary’s.

That’s a far cry from the .518 mark and 14 homers he chalked up last year as a senior at St. Bernard High School. But the smooth-swinging Williams has been a hard-luck hitter this season.

“I’ve been making good contact,” Williams said. “Then some guy has a diving catch and robs me. Or it’s a line drive right at the guy and all he has to do is take one step. But things have been falling for me in the last couple of games. I guess that’s baseball.”

Williams had a pair of clutch base hits in Loyola’s 12-7 win in Friday’s opener against St. Mary’s. Then he added an RBI single and a stolen base in the first game of Saturday’s double-header, which the Lions won, 7-3.

When he turned on a 3-1 fastball from Gaels’ right-hander Mark Riccabona for his home run in the second game, Williams narrowly missed the scoreboard high behind the right-field fence.

The scoreboard was about all Loyola missed at the plate in Saturday’s sweep. The Lions, who went into the series batting .334 as a team, collected 28 hits in the two games to drive their record to 38-10 and stay unbeaten in 10 West Coast Athletic Assn. contests.

Center fielder Brian Turang had four RBIs and three hits in the twin bill, including a triple and a double. First baseman Greg Wall (.306) and catcher Miah Bradbury (.319) kept up their torrid hitting with four and three hits respectively.

The Lions got solid pitching in the first game from senior right-hander Mike Jones (5-2), who scattered seven hits en route to a complete-game victory.

Jones struck out five with a crisp fastball and a hard-breaking curve and didn’t allow a hit until Deron Johnson sneaked one past the diving Donny Sparks at third base in the fourth.

Jones was backed up by a flawless defense. Carl Fraticelli handled several tough chances at second base, and Robert Cannon gunned a one-hop throw from right field to pick off speedster Ken Korn as he tried to score from second on a single.

Senior Scott Neill (4-2) worked five innings for the win in the second game, with relief from Kalani Bush and Darryl Scott.

If the Lions win today’s 1 p.m. finale against St. Mary’s (21-24, 6-9), they would capture their third straight four-game sweep in conference play. Freshman Mike McNary (6-2) will pitch for Loyola against Marc D’Andrea (3-5).

“It’s kind of funny how there’s so many sweeps going on despite how comparable teams are in Southern California,” said Loyola Coach Dave Snow, whose Lions mowed past down San Francisco and San Diego in straight sets earlier this season. “It kind of goes against the grain, considering the balance.”

With the southpaw D’Andrea on the mound for St. Mary’s, the left-handed-hitting Williams will likely get a rest today. Williams has been starting against right-handed hurlers while he gets accustomed to college pitching.

“College pitchers are a lot smarter,” Williams said. “In high school, guys would just put it out over the plate looking for an out. Here, they set you up carefully to get you to go after their pitch.”