SAN BRUNO, Calif. – Freshman Tyler Thornton set the tone early in the Gaels' series win over Loyola Marymount. The right-hander produced career-bests in multiple categories in his start against Lions, earning himself the first Rawlings West Coast Conference Pitcher of the Week Award of his career.
On Thursday afternoon, he shut down WCC-leading LMU in the series-opener. Thornton tossed a career-high, 8.0 innings pitched, allowing no runs and just two hits while striking out 12 (matches a career-high). The righty struck out the first five batters he faced and seven of the first nine.