BOX SCORE
SAN DIEGO -- The Sea Lions won their fourth straight contest Friday when they defeated Vanguard 9-6 at Carroll B. Land Stadium. Just over a week ago Point Loma Nazarene was in ninth place in the conference but are now tied with Azusa Pacific in fourth.
The Sea Lions were the first to cross the plate in the bottom of the third thanks to a couple hits and a series of bloopers in center field. Tyler Kuehl and Scott Stidham recorded back-to-back singles up the middle. Kuehl scored when Edgar Molina reached on a fielding error from Vanguard second baseman Sean Wilson.
PLNU added two more when Shain Stoner single to center field, first scoring Stidham. Tyson Leighton made a valiant diving effort and gloved it, but couldn't hold on. As the senior got up, he fumbled the ball and kicked it behind him, allowing Molina to score from first.
Junior transfer Kelson Boyer tossed four scoreless innings before the Lions responded to the Sea Lions' three runs. A double, single, and a sacrifice bunt allowed the first run to come in. Another single brought in the second run, and all of a sudden it was a very close ball game. Righty Chris Gonzales came in to relieve Boyer and cruised through three scoreless, hitless innings.
The bats didn't stop for Loma. The team scored another run in the sixth Rashad Taylor belted a three-run homerun in the seventh. Point Loma adding another two in the eighth to go ahead 9-2.
Things got a little bit dramatic in the top of the ninth when right-hander Oliver Craig took the hill in Gonzales's place. The Sea Lions were leading by a giant 9-2 margin, but Vanguard proved that just about anything can happen in baseball.
Craig gave up four runs on three hits, two of which were over the fence, slimming the lead to 9-6. Coach Joe Schaefer then called for closer Maurice Wilhelm who finished the job and earned his fifth save of the year.
Boyer picked up his first win of the year after 5.1 innings of work. The losing pitcher was Mike Leal (1-2).
Vanguard fell to 13-16, 9-10 after the loss.
The Sea Lions will travel to Costa Mesa tomorrow to face Vanguard in a double header beginning at noon.
