Brandon Dixon pitched eight scoreless innings and the PLNU bats came alive late in the game to give the Sea Lions a 9-0 victory over visiting San Diego Christian on Thursday afternoon.

Dixon was dominant in eight innings of work, scattering four hits, walking just one and striking out nine. The PLNU lineup looked like it would break the game open right from the start as Allen Boyer led off with a double and scored on a single by Alex Cameron.

The Sea Lions would proceed to load the bases with one out. San Diego Christian starting pitcher Nick Bando worked his way out of the jam though by striking out Tyler Kuehl and getting Jeff Fox to ground out.

Bando settled down after the first, throwing four scoreless frames before being replaced by Ryan Fischer in the 6th inning. That was when PLNU's bats started to come around.

Rashad Taylor led off the bottom of the 6th with a single. He would make his way to third and score on a single by Fox. Evan Lippow pinch-ran at first and stole second. A high throw allowed Kuehl, who'd reached on a walk, to score from third.

Freshman Caleb Wenzel, making his first start, drew a walk followed by a pinch-hit single by Kevin Newburg to load the bases. All three runners would come across to score following a wild pitch and an error, giving the Sea Lions a 6-0 lead.

PLNU would tack on three more runs in the eighth off Hawks' reliever Donald Arthur. Kuehl led off the inning with a walk and Jeff Fox homered to make the score 8-0 and notch his second and third RBIs of the game. Allen Boyer would add a solo home run to make it 9-0.

Adam Herter pitched a scoreless ninth for the Sea Lions, who improve to 12-3-1 this season and 4-1 in the GSAC. SDCC drops to 1-8, 1-5 in conference play.

NOTE: Because of the threat of rain, Saturday's DH has been divided up. PLNU will play at SDCC Friday, March 5 at 2:00 pm for a nine-inning game and then play the seven-inning game Saturday, March 6 at noon. Both games will be played at SDCC's Barona Field.

-Jeremiah Wood