Loyola Marymount reliever Joshua Muecke rescued the Lions out of a bases-loaded jam in the eighth inning Saturday, leading the Lions (21-34/14-15) to an 8-5 win at Portland (24-29/16-13), ending Portland’s run at the West Coast Conference’s West division title.

Portland entered the game needing wins Saturday and Sunday over the Lions to advance to the WCC tournament, but LMU scored five runs in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth, then held on for the spoiler win.

Pinch-hitter Bryan Dearinger singled to open the eighth, and Matt Hollod and Jared Mora singled around an out to load the bases. Pinch-runner Nick Thede was forced out at the plate on a fielder’s choice for the second out of the inning. Eric Hull was then hit by a pitch to score Hollod, chasing LMU starter Justin Abreu (5-5).

Muecke struck out Kory Casto to end the threat, then struck out two of three Pilot batters in the ninth for his four save of the season.

After the Lions took a quick 1-0 lead in the first, Trevor Hahn was hit by a pitch and Eric Hull singled. Casto doubled in Hahn and Hull for a 2-1 Pilot lead. The Lions then battered Portland starter Zach Yarbrough for five hits and five runs in the fifth to regain the lead. Jonathan Oller, Joe Frazee, Jonathan Higashi and Sean Smith each drove in runs.

The Pilots answered back on Travis Hanson’s two-run double in the bottom of the fifth. Trevor Hahn had extended his hitting streak to 27 games with a double to lead off the inning, but was thrown out at the plate trying to score when Casto ripped the ball up the middle.

Joshua Whitesell had three hits for LMU, including a solo homer to lead off the sixth, while Frazee was 3-for-3 with two RBI. Kris Zacuto added three hits and a pair of RBI.