A ninth-inning rally came up just short for No. 9-ranked PLNU at Carroll B. Land Stadium on Wednesday, as the Sea Lions fell 4-3 to the visiting Master's College Mustangs, despite scoring three runs in the ninth.

For eight innings PLNU's hitters were stifled by Mustang starter Zack Anderson, who took a 4-0 lead into the ninth inning. Wes Kartch led off the inning with a single and Kevin Newburg added a base hit of his own. With runners on first and second, Jeff Fox singled to left which loaded the bases for pinch-hitter Evan Lippow.

Lippow delivered with a single to right field that scored two, cutting the Mustang lead to 4-2 and putting the tying run on first base. TMC then made the decision to pull Anderson in favor of freshman lefty reliever Daniel Sheaffer after PLNU's Alec Martinez was announced as the pinch-hitter.

Martinez would beat out a bunt to third base, putting the tying run in scoring position and loading the bases yet again. Allen Boyer stepped to the plate and drove the ball to center field. The ball was caught, but it was enough to score Fox from third, making the score 4-3. The Sea Lions would have two chances to get the runner from second in.

Sheaffer got Alex Cameron to pop out to third, then proceeded to strike out Tyler Kuehl on a 2-2 pitch to end the game. Sheaffer earned his third save of the season, preserving the win for Anderson (4-5). Anderson was charged with three earned runs and struck out nine in eight innings of work.

Steve Winnick was sharp on the mound for the Sea Lions, throwing 8 1/3 innings and striking out seven while giving up three earned runs. He was victimized by a disputed solo homerun from Chris Talley in the fifth inning, and a three-RBI double by Joe Zeller in the eighth.

Talley's round-tripper was hit down the left field line and looked to have hooked foul before it reached the wall, but was called fair despite protests from the Sea Lion coaching staff.

PLNU drops to 17-8 in the GSAC, 28-10-1 overall. The Master's improves to 11-14 in conference play, 18-19 overall. The teams meet up again tomorrow at 3 p.m. for the second game of the series.

-Jeremiah Wood