LOS ANGELES — A.J. Libunao (Huntington Beach) hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Occidental College baseball team totaled 12 hits in the first of a three-game series with Whittier.

But Oxy (16-8, 7-6 SCIAC) couldn't find a way to string together its offense for enough runs in a 4-3 loss the Poets at Anderson Field on Friday.

Libunao crushed a fastball from over the left-field wall, bringing home Johnathan Brooks (Huntington Beach) to cut the Poets' lead to 4-3. Then Thomas Lalli (Bountiful, Utah), who gave up just one hit in 2.1 innings of scoreless relief, held the Poets (11-13, 8-5 SCIAC) at bay in the ninth to give Oxy one more chance.

In the bottom of the ninth, Brooks singled and Allen walked, but Oxy left the pair on first and second base.

Oxy scored its first run in the fourth inning and nearly added a second. Libunao scored from third on Brooks' line drive to left field, but Alec Strain (Sacramento) was thrown out at the plate 7-5-2, trying to score from second.

Whittier's Ben Cerami earned the victory, striking out six batters in eight innings. Bobby Santoyo picked up the save in the ninth.

Joseph Kling (Kirksville, Mo.) threw 6.2 innings and gave up four runs in a losing effort for the Tigers.

Brooks, who's fourth in the SCIAC in hitting (.417), went 4 for 5 with an RBI. Libunao was 2 for 3 with two RBIs and two runs scored to go along with his second homer of the season. Riley Smith(Bellevue, Wash.) went 2 for 4 with a run scored.

Oxy and Whittier play a doubleheader tomorrow at Whittier. Game 1 starts at 11 a.m.