BOX SCORE
RIVERSIDE, Calif. -- The Sea Lions came close but could not overcome California Baptist's seven-run fourth inning, losing to the third-ranked Lancers 11-9 Wednesday afternoon.
CBU (39-11, 24-9) maintains a one-game lead over Biola atop the GSAC standings with three games to play. The Sea Lions (26-18, 18-15) slip to fifth place, one game behind Concordia but two ahead of Azusa. PLNU will qualify for the conference tournament with the final three contests of the regular season deciding where the tournament will be held as well as match ups.
The Green and Gold was quickly down 4-1 after three frames were in the books at Totman Stadium Wednesday. PLNU halved the deficit with a run in the fourth but the Lancers pushed seven across in the home half of the inning to take a commanding 11-2 lead.
Cal Baptist sent 11 men to the plate during the outburst, with all but the last run charged to Sea Lion starter Garrett Levsen. Josh Dexheimer took over in the inning and surrendered the final Lancer run before closing out the inning.
Seemingly out of it, the Sea Lions began chipping away at the CBU advantage. Rashad Taylor and Clinton Harwick hit back-to-back homers in the fifth to start the comeback. Tyler Kuehl doubled home another run to make the score 11-5.
PLNU plated three more in the seventh, capped by RBI doubles by Scott Stidham, Shaine Stoner and Edgar Molina. The Sea Lions had the makings of a big inning brewing in the eighth as well but a pick off and a double play saw the threat produce just one run.
Patrick Smith sent PLNU down 1-2-3 in the ninth to preserve the win for CBU and starter Taylor Siemens (9-1). Smith earned his seventh save with the 2.1 inning outing. It was Siemens' 26th career victory tying him with Steve Goins for first place on the Lancers' career wins list.
Levsen dropped to 4-6 after allowing 10 runs – eight earned – in 3.1 innings. Dexheimer toed the rubber for the final 4.1 frames.
Stoner, Taylor, Harwick, Alec Martinez and Allen Boyer each had two of PLNU's 14 hits with Stoner and Taylor each driving in two.
Kevin Odom went 2-for-4 with four RBI to lead CBU.
The Sea Lions will be back in Riverside on Thursday for the second of their four-game series with the Lancers. First pitch is set for 3:00 pm. PLNU hosts California Baptist for a twin-bill on Saturday that begins at noon.
