Loyola, St. Mary’s Split Doubleheader

The Loyola Marymount baseball team split a West Coast Conference doubleheader Saturday, winning the first game, 9-3, but losing the nightcap, 7-4, against St. Mary’s at Page Stadium.

The split left the Lions, who hadn’t played in a week, at 11-8 overall and 6-4 in WCC play. St. Mary’s is 8-9 and 5-6. The teams will complete their series by making up Friday’s rainout at 11 a.m. today.

Loyola’s Chad Dembiski won the opener to even his record at 3-3. Outfielder Mark Tillman provided the offense with two doubles and three runs batted in.

The Lions took the early lead in the second game and Chris Spears cruised into the fifth with a 2-0 lead. Two hits and an error loaded the bases for St. Mary’s two-time all-league outfielder James Mouton. He sent a Spears’ fastball into the net above the left-field fence for a grand slam and the Lions never caught up.

Loyola rallied for solo runs in the sixth and seventh, but St. Mary’s scored once in the seventh and secured the victory in the eighth with another bases-loaded hit, this one a two-run single by first baseman Craig Bellici.

The Lions got two runners on base in the ninth to bring the potential tying run to the plate, but couldn’t score.

Spears took the loss, falling to 4-2. St. Mary’s left-hander Toby Foreman (3-2) got the victory.