Leftfielder Rashad Taylor blasted four homeruns and starting pitchers Steven Winnick and Brandon Dixon picked up wins in PLNU's sweep of Azusa Pacific Thursday at Carroll B. Land Stadium, the Sea Lions winning 11-5, 7-5. The Green and Gold improved to 18-5-1, 11-3 GSAC with the two triumphs.

Taylor got the ball rolling with a two-run shot in the first inning of the opening game. The Cougars tied the contest up with single runs in the second and third innings, helped out by wildness from Winnick. Another Taylor round-tripper, this one a solo homer - in the bottom of the third put PLNU in front for good.

Alex Cameron hit a sac fly in the fourth while Kevin Newburg and Jack Diamond each had RBI hits in the fifth to give the Sea Lions a 6-2 lead.

APU miscues in the seventh led to PLNU's seventh run of the game. Cougar first baseman Brice Cutspec hit a three-run homerun in the top of the ninth for the final 7-5 score.

Winnick (4-1) labored through the first couple of innings but picked up steam. The senior went six frames, allowing seven hits and five walks but yielded just two runs. Winnick twice was bailed out of some looming threats by his defense that turned to double plays. KC Kartch took over in the seventh and breezed through two innings of relief before surrendering Cutspec's homer in the ninth.

Taylor was 3-for-4 with three RBI and three runs scored to lead the PLNU offense. Allen Boyer and Tyler Kuehl each had two hits in the game one triumph.

Boyer began the nightcap with a bang. Leading off the bottom of the first he put together an 11-pitch at bat, ripping the last offering from Ian Kelly over the right field fence. Two batters later, Taylor hit a solo homer to give the Sea Lions the early 2-0 advantage.

Taylor's fourth homer of the day came in the fifth. The 3-0 lead looked to be more than enough for Dixon who went through the Cougar lineup with ease until allowing two runs in the sixth. PLNU responded with three runs in the home half of the frame.

The Sea Lions later put up a four-spot in the seventh. Three of PLNU's four hits in the inning were doubles, capped by Cameron's two-run hit. The Sea Lions had 17 hits in game two, eight of which were the extra base variety.

APU closed the gap somewhat with three runs in the eighth, but it was too-little-too-late, PLNU winning 11-5. The Cougars fell to 8-14 overall and are just 1-13 in conference play.

Dixon improved to 5-0 after allowing just two runs in a seven-inning stint. Kenny Houser and Maurice Wilhelm each pitched an inning of relief.

Cameron had three hits and three RBI in the win. Jeff Fox went 3-for-3 with two doubles. Boyer, Kuehl, Taylor, Wes Kartch and Alec Martinez each had two hits.

The two teams will play a doubleheader on Saturday, this time in Azusa. First pitch is scheduled for noon.