BOX SCORE

AZUSA, Calif. -- The NAIA No. 8-ranked Sea Lions suffered a heartbreaking 6-5 loss on the road at Azusa Pacific on Wednesday evening. The Cougars scored both the tying and go-ahead runs in the bottom of the eighth, a half inning after Point Loma scored four runs to take a 5-4 lead.

After a three and a half scoreless innings, APU put its first run on the board thanks to a pair of singles, a stolen base, and a balk from Loma hurler Garrett Levsen. The Cougars would score again during their next couple turns: two more runs in the fifth off a two-run shot from right fielder Josh Leite and another run in the sixth. The Sea Lions managed to squeeze in a run between the Cougars.

PLNU finally busted it open in the top of the eighth, scoring four runs on a Scott Stidham RBI single and a Shain Stoner three-run homer. That would put the Sea Lions ahead 5-4, but they wouldn't hold the lead for long.

The Cougars responded by plating two runs on four hits. The APU rally started with a single up the middle, followed by a failed pickoff attempt from Levsen. With a runner on second, Cougar catcher Anthony Delgado singled up the middle to even the score at 5-5.

A bunt to third would leave two runners on and a call to the bullpen. Kelson Boyer took the place of the freshman right hander in the tough situation and yielded a RBI double to pinch-hitter Matt Page.

The Sea Lions were unable to come back with the bats in the top of the ninth and would suffer the GSAC defeat. 

Levsen was hung with his fourth loss after 7.1 innings, nine hits, six runs, five of which were earned.The freshman has recorded two wins this season. Though APU's Colby Gurney threw 7.2 innings, it was reliever Jacob Cage who earned the win, improving his record to 3-3. 

Point Loma is now 10-9 overall, 5-7 in GSAC; APU is 13-11, 6-7 GSAC. The teams will face each other again tomorrow at Azusa at 5:00 pm.