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SAN DIEGO - Tyler Garkow and three relievers held Bethesda to just two hits, and the Sea Lions' offense put up nine runs to lead Point Loma to a 9-1 win over the Flames on Wednesday (Feb. 20).

The Sea Lions have now won four of their last five games to improve to 5-6 on the season (3-1 Pacific West Conference). Bethesda is now at 0-10.

Garkow (3-0) faced the minimum over his four innings of work. He allowed just one single, which he wiped away with a ground ball double play. He then walked the leadoff batter in the fourth but picked him off first base to stay at the minimum.

Garkow then gave way to Mickey Dunleavy who pitched the next three innings, allowing just one run and one hit, while striking out three. Sam Sadler and Garret Levsen each added perfect innings of relief, with two strikeouts apiece, to seal the win.

"I think there is so much confidence every time Garkow steps on the mound," said Point Loma head coach Joe Schaefer. "The hitters know we are going to be in the ballgame and all we have to do is get a couple on the board because he is going to shutdown the other team."

The pitchers were staked to a 3-0 lead after the first innings as the Sea Lions rallied with two out. After Joseph Keller doubled and Bryan Burkhead walked Trey Hunt singled up the middle to plate Keller, then Kyle Desimone doubled off the left field wall to clear the bases.

The Sea Lions would add one run in the second when Zach Allen singled in AJ Derr. The bats would then go quiet until the sixth when they broke out for five runs, with the big blow coming off the bat of Trey Hunt who capped off the inning with a bases loaded single.

Hunt finished the game 2-for-4 with a run scored and three RBI. Marcus Heinser and Zach Allen each added two hits and an RBI. PLNU was also extra aggressive on the bases today as they stole nine bags and had numerous hits with runners moving. Allen had three of those steals.

"We knew from day 1 (base running) would be one of our strengths," Schaefer explained. "We aren't going to be able to sit back and rely on late home runs so we are going to have to manufacture the best we can.

"We are playing well right now," continued coach Schaefer. "We made some improvements areas we needed work. We are playing good defense and we are starting to get what we need out of the backend of our bullpen, which is very encouraging as we go into the thick of conference play."

The Sea Lions will be off for more than a week before heading to Dixie State on Mar. 2 for a four-game series.  They will then travel to Grand Canyon to face the 'Lopes in a four-game set, Mar. 7-9.

"There are some good and bad things that go along with being on the road. This team doesn't have much experience on the road and the places we are going, we have never been to before. So there are some negatives there, but at the same time this is going to be a great opportunity for this team to bond over the next three weeks, come together and play the way we know we are capable of."