The Dirtbags robbed Loyola Marymount pitcher Nate Keadle of a no-hitter Tuesday night at Blair Field, grabbing their fourth consecutive win with a 5-2 defeat over the Lions.
On track for the win, Keadle pitched a gem, going hitless until the sixth, when he gave up not only his first hit of the game, but four earned runs as well. With the Lions leading 1-0 and no outs, Keadle walked two straight to start the inning. Danny Espinosa ripped a slash bunt past a diving shortstop for the Dirtbags’ first hit of the day. With no outs and bases loaded, Keadle then issued a free pass to Shane Peterson to walk in the tying run. Ernie Cho then came on in relief, but was unable to get out of the inning unscathed.
Cho struck out Zach Barger for the first out, but walked pinch-hitter Ted Lemasters, the fourth walk of the inning, to put the Dirtbags one-up over the Lions. With the bases still loaded Brandon Godfrey had an RBI fielder’s choice to drive in TJ Mittelstaedt, and Chris Nelson drove in Peterson on a squeeze play, giving the Dirtbags a 4-1 lead, and robbing Keadle of what would have been his best career outing.
Tyler Topp made his first start on the mound for LBSU and gave up just one earned run on three hits in 5.1 innings, striking out five. In his first Division I start, Topp kept his composure after surrendering and earned run in the second inning, retiring seven of the last nine batters he faced.And In a game where the Dirtbags were issued eight free passes (seven walks, one hit batsman) Topp was able to maintain control, walking none.
“He threw 80-something pitches, and kept them down in the zone,” Weathers said. “I thought he threw very well.”
However, while thrilled with the win, LBSU head coach Mike Weathers was less than thrilled with the strikeout rate.
“I was disappointed to strike out that many times, I thought we were making some advances in out strikeouts; had lessened them,” Weathers said. “Did [Keadle] have something to with it? Absolutely. I thought our distance level was not very good.”
Hits came few and far between, and true to form, pulled off a small-ball win, utilizing the walks, as well as stolen bases and bunts to pull off their fourth straight win.
Shane Peterson went 1 for 2 with one run and two RBI and swiped two bags, including one in a perfectly-executed double steal.
LBSU improved to 6-2 on the season, while the struggling LMU fell to 3-6.
