AZUSA, Calif. – With two losses to Azusa Pacific Saturday afternoon, Point Loma Nazarene's 2012 season came to an end, as did the team's affiliation with the Golden State Athletic Conference and the NAIA. Starting in the fall, the Sea Lions will compete in the NCAA Division II as a member of the PacWest.

PLNU fell in heartbreaking fashion in game one, 7-3 and then dropped the nightcap 4-2 which officially eliminated the team from postseason competition. The last time that PLNU failed to make the playoffs was in 2001.

The Green and Gold finished up the season with an 18-31 overall record and a 10-22 mark in conference. Conference regular season champions APU improved to 41-9, 28-4 GSAC. The Cougars will host the six-team GSAC tournament which starts on Tuesday, May 1.

The Sea Lions, led by a terrific pitching performance from starter Justin Lawrence, were up on the NAIA fourth-ranked Cougars 3-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth. APU would storm back for five runs off of reliever Sam Sadler; however, including a walk-off grand slam by Trevor Lothrop on a 3-1 count.

Earlier in the game, left fielder Bryan Burkhead put the Sea Lions up 2-1 after he connected on his ninth home run of the season in the third. Three innings later, center fielder Trey Hunt hit his second round-tripper of 2012 to give Point Loma a 3-1 lead.

APU pushed a run across in the bottom of the sixth and rallied for five in the ninth.

Lawrence went seven innings in which he allowed two runs on five hits and fanned five. Sadler (0-2) suffered the loss by yielding five runs in 1.1 innings.

The Cougars used five pitchers in the game with the last to toe the rubber, Colby Gurney, picking up his ninth win of the year.

Right fielder Lucas DiCiccio put PLNU up when he clubbed a two-run homer in the second inning of game two. Azusa Pacific plated three in the fourth; however, to take a one-run lead. Jordan Leyland led off the frame with a homerun. The Sea Lion defense helped out the Cougars with an error, the last two runs being unearned.

Point Loma Nazarene threatened in the sixth, loading the bases with one out. But a lineout out to left and grounder to third failed to produce a run.

The Cougars tacked on an insurance run in the seventh for the final 4-2 score.  The two losses encapsulated PLNU's frustrating year. It was the 17th time this season that the Sea Lions lost by one or two runs. 

Tyler Garkow started for PLNU and fell to 4-9 after surrendering four runs (two earned) on eight hits. Garkow walked three and struck out seven. Chad Etchison tossed a perfect frame in relief.

Hunt and Clinton Harwick had two hits apiece for PLNU.

J.C. Aguayo (1-2) was the winning pitcher for APU and Alan Garcia earned his 15th save.