box game one | box game two
IRVINE, Calif. -- Tyler Garkow tossed a complete-game in the opener and catcher Ricky Gingras blasted the go-ahead home run in the nightcap, leading Point Loma Nazarene to a GSAC sweep of NAIA No. 2-ranked Concordia Friday. The Sea Lions won by scores of 4-1 and 8-5 (10).
PLNU improves to 13-16 overall, 6-10 in conference. The defending national champion Eagles fall to 17-8, 9-3 GSAC. The two teams split their four-game season series, CUI winning twice on PLNU's home field Thursday.
Garkow (3-4) was the story in game one. The right-hander pitched a complete game, allowing one run on seven hits. Garkow didn't issue a walk and struck out just two batters.
A scoreless game until the fourth, Lucas DiCiccio walked, stole second, and scored on a single to left field by Andy Littlefield to put PLNU on the board. The Sea Lions added three runs in the sixth to take a 4-0 advantage. Bryan Burkhead and Trey Hunt each had RBI doubles in the frame.
The Eagles' lone run of the game came in the seventh inning when Chris Lemus doubled to left field and was brought in by Ty Holm's triple.
Thomas Hoenshell (2-2) pitched five innings for the Eagles allowing three runs on three hits to take the loss. Sean Buford pitched in relief giving up one run on five hits in four innings of work.
The scoring started early in game two. The Eagles struck first on Holm's leadoff walk, who then stole second and third, and scored on a sacrifice fly to center field by Aaron Gates. CUI added another run in the second frame.
PLNU got their first run in the nightcap when Hunt singled to left field to plate Gingras.
The Eagles responded with a run to push their lead to 4-1.
It seemed as though the Sea Lions would be settling for a split but instead scored three runs in the seventh to tie the game at 4-4. After three straight singles to start the frame, pinch-hitter Tyler Nordgren rapped out a two-RBI single off of CUI starter Jake Hovis that scored Hunt and Burkhead. Marcus Heisner then grounded out to third, plating DiCiccio to tie the game.
Kyle Konicek led off the seventh inning by reaching on a Sea Lions fielding error. He would advance to second on a groundout, steal third, and score on a single by Gates to take the 5-4 lead.
Point Loma would once again tie the game in the eighth when Gingras singled and then scored on Hunt's double down the left field line.
The two teams played a scoreless ninth to go into extra innings for the second straight day. On Thursday the Eagles came through in the tenth; Friday belonged to PLNU.
Clinton Harwick singled to right field to open the frame. Josh White entered the game for Jake Hovis and was greeted by Gingras who smashed a two-run home run to right field. Hunt added to his hot day and to the PLNU lead when he singled, stole second, and scored on DiCiccio's double to left field.
Hovis (4-2) was hung with the loss. He went nine complete innings and yielded Harwick's leadoff single in the tenth. Josh White followed and gave up Gingras' go-ahead blast.
Hunt went 4-for-5 in the nightcap and had five hits and three RBI over the two games.
Garrett Gooding (1-0) was the winning pitcher. The lefty was the fifth Sea Lion to toe the rubber in game two, lasting 2.2 innings with no hits and no runs scored. Garrett Levsen started and went just 3.2 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits.
Josh Dexheimer (1.1 innings), Sam Sadler (1.1 innings) and Chad Etchison (1.0 inning) combined to hold the Eagles to just one run.
The Sea Lions take a few days off before traveling to Vanguard on Friday, March 23. The first game of the GSAC doubleheader is slated for a noon start.
