SportsScope : Loyola Nine to Hit Road Friday for 3 at USF Before Facing Trojans Tuesday

Loyola Marymount University’s baseball team will travel to San Francisco to play a three-game West Coast Athletic Conference series at USF before returning home to play at USC on Tuesday. Loyola (24-14-1) plays an afternoon game Friday and a noon double-header Saturday at USF. The Lions are in last place in the WCAC at 3-7-1. The Dons are in fifth at 7-9 and are 13-22-1 overall. The non-conference game at USC begins at 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on Prime Ticket cable.

The Lions went on a hitting spree last week, scoring 38 runs in three games against Arizona and raising their team batting average to .341. Seven regulars are batting higher than .350, led by sophomore Travis Tarchione, who went 8 for 9 last weekend to raise his average to .396. He’s followed by freshman Miah Bradbury at .376 and senior Jim McAnany at .370. Slugger Chris Donnels, hitting 357, leads the Lions with 13 home runs and 48 runs batted in. McAnany has 35 RBI, Tarchione 31.

Cal State Dominguez Hills, in the midst of a long home stand, plays a California Collegiate Athletic Assn. double-header at noon Saturday against Chapman College and a non-league game at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday against U.S. International University. The Toros entered the week tied for first place in the CCAA at 9-4 (co-leader Cal State Northridge is 8-3) and had the best overall record at 24-10.

Outfielder Jon Beuder has been the Toros’ hottest hitter since returning from a hand injury. Beuder leads the team with a .357 average as well as runs, hits and stolen bases. His five triples lead the CCAA. Outfielder Fred Hanker, the school’s all-time RBI leader, tops the conference with 40 to go with team highs of 9 doubles and 6 homers. Solid defense has buoyed the Toros, who have committed only 34 errors compared to 84 by opponents, scoring 63 unearned runs while allowing only 21.

Loyola Marymount plays host to San Diego State in a Western Intercollegiate Volleyball Assn. men’s match at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Loyola entered the week at 13-17 overall but in last place in the WIVA at 0-14. San Diego is next to last at 3-12. The Aztecs are 7-13 overall.