PLNU scored three runs in the ninth and Tyler Kuehl blasted two home runs, but the Sea Lions needed at least one more as they fell 11-10 to Fresno Pacific in an elimination game at the GSAC Tournament on Wednesday. PLNU will likely receive an at-large berth to the Opening Round of the NAIA Tournament next week.

In a game that featured numerous lead changes and momentum swings, PLNU put together one last rally in the ninth trailing 11-7. It was Kuehl keeping hope alive to start the inning with a deep home run to left to make it 11-8, his second homer of the day. That hope seemed to be erased though when Jeff Fox and Rashad Taylor both struck out.

But Wes Kartch was hit by a pitch and Steve Winnick beat out an infield single to put the tying run at the plate, pinch-hit Ian MacMaster. After a wild pitch, MacMaster delivered by chopping a single to left scoring both runners. With the score 11-10, FPU finally made the decision to pull starting pitcher Sean Cunningham.

FPU reliever Matt Mazzoni came in to face Sea Lion freshman Jack Diamond, and despite a tough at-bat, Diamond chased a ball in the dirt for strike three and was thrown out at first after it got away from the catcher.

Fresno Pacific (34-14) got six RBI from Jared Coleman, and advances to take on Cal Baptist tomorrow for the tournament title. Cunningham earned the win to improve to 8-2.

With its pitching thin after playing four games in three days, PLNU's bats looked to pick them up. Allen Boyer set the tone for the lineup in the game's first at-bat, just missing a home run off the left field wall that went for a double. Unfortunately the team grounded into double plays in each of the first two innings to stay off the board.

PLNU starter Kenny Houser looked very sharp from the outset, throwing nine pitches for nine strikes and fanning two batters in the first inning.

The Sea Lions would get him some support in the the top of the third. Alex Cameron singled for his GSAC tourney-leading tenth hit, scoring Jack Diamond who'd reached on a walk. The Sunbirds had Diamond picked off at first base, but the FPU first baseman threw the ball into the outfield.

Tyler Kuehl then hammered a pitch to left center for a home run, giving the Sea Lions a 3-0 lead.

The Sunbirds would not take long to respond. In the bottom of the third, FPU got to Houser with two singles and a four-pitch walk. FPU catcher Jared Coleman then delivered his first big hit of the day for the Sunbirds, a line drive down the left field line that scored all three runners to tie the game.

This was a big momentum shift in the game, as the Sunbirds poured out of the dugout in celebration. They would take the lead on a Case Rigby sacrifice fly. The momentum continued as Dwight Nixon doubled off the top of the high wall in right. Dane McLaughlin then hit a blooper that fell in the perfect spot for the Sunbirds, scoring another run to put FPU up 5-3.

Houser began to struggle with his command, as he walked and hit the next two batters prompting a call to the bullpen.Robby Ross came in and induced an inning-ending groundball.

The Sea Lions would trim the lead in the fifth on a towering shot by Boyer. He hit the ball to the deepest part of the park in dead center to lead off the top of the fifth, his 17th round-tripper of the year. The ball traveled an estimated 430 feet and made it 5-4 FPU. Diamond came through with a clutch two-out, two-RBI single in the next inning to put PLNU ahead 6-5.

The lead wouldn't last long though as Coleman delivered another big hit for the Sunbirds, blasting a three-run homer off Ross in the bottom of the inning to put FPU back on top 8-6.

PLNU came right back in the top of the seventh with Wes Kartch hitting a gapper to right center that scored Jeff Fox all the way from first. Cunningham continued to bend but not break though, stranding two Sea Lion runners to maintain a one-run FPU lead.

A two-run double by Andrew Rich in the bottom half of the inning chased Ross from the game and extended the Sunbird lead to 10-7. The Sunbirds would add one more in the eighth, which would prove to be crucial.

The Sea Lions fall to 35-18-1, with Ross (4-4) taking the loss.

-Jeremiah Wood