LOS ANGELES, Calif. --- The Loyola Marymount Lions scored three early runs and held the Portland Pilots to just a pair of hits en route to a 3-0 win on Sunday afternoon in the finale of a three-game West Coast Conference series at Page Stadium. The Pilots did bring the potential tying run to the plate in both the eighth and ninth innings, but the Lions got out of the jam both times.
 
LMU (8-11, 2-1 WCC) jumped ahead in the bottom of the first inning by scoring two runs. Niko Decolati brought in the first run with a single, while the second run came in on a sacrifice fly. The Lions then added an insurance run in the bottom of the second inning, courtesy of another sacrifice fly, this one off the bat of Austin Miller.
 
The three runs proved to be enough, despite LMU pitchers issuing a combined eight walks on the day. Tyler Cohen (2-2) takes the win after working 7.0 scoreless innings. He allowed only a single to Kevin Wade, while walking five Pilots. Reliever Michael Silva walked two in the eighth before escaping the jam, and Sean Watkins pitched the ninth to register his second save of the year.
 
Cooper Hummel hit a one-out double off of Watkins in the ninth, and Cody Hawken drew a walk to give the Pilots two base runners with two outs. But Watkins induced a game-ending ground out from Wade to seal the win.
 
In the previous inning, Caleb Whalen threw out a runner at home plate from center field to keep the Pilots within reach. Phil Caulfield was trying to score on a fly out, but Whalen provided a perfect throw and catcher Brady Kerr applied the tag to end the inning.
 
Five Portland (11-8, 1-2 WCC) pitchers held the Lions to just seven hits, and Jordan Horak (1-1) picks up the loss. Horak was charged with all three LMU runs, and relievers Kevin Baker, Marty Luckenbach, Cameron Richman and Alex Fisher combined to hold the Lions scoreless the rest of the way.
 
The win gives the series to the Lions, who recovered after dropping the opener to the Pilots on Friday night.
 
Next up for the Pilots is a visit from in-state rival and third-ranked Oregon State on Tuesday. First pitch is set for 6 p.m. at Joe Etzel Field, and the game will be brodcast on tape delay on Comcast SportsNet NW, with the broadcast beginning at 8 p.m.