[Game 1 box score] [Game 2 box score]

SAN DIEGO - Bryan Burkhead homered three times and the Sea Lions received great pitching for the second straight day to sweep a four-game series from longtime rival Fresno Pacific on Saturday, Apr. 13. The Sea Lions capped off the series on Saturday with a 7-3 win in game one and a 4-3 victory in game two.

This was the first four-game home sweep for Point Loma since 2006 over Trevecca Nazarene. The Sea Lions are now 21-20 on the season and in fourth place in the Pacific West Conference with an 18-11 record.

Bryan Burkhead fueled the Sea Lion offense throughout the day as he went 3-for-6 with three home runs, four runs scored and six RBI on day.

Game 1
Bryan Burkhead hit two home runs and drove in four runs to power PLNU to a 7-3 win in the opener.

Justin Lawrence (4-4) gave the Sea Lions seven scoreless innings, yielding just five hits while striking out six. He got stronger as the game went along as he allowed just four base runners after the second inning, and struck out four of the last five batters he faced.

After Lawrence worked himself out of a couple early jams the Sea Lions offense responded with three runs in the second and three more in the third. Burkhead was a big part of both rallies. In the second inning his sacrifice bunt attempt was overthrown by the FPU pitcher as he attempted to cut down Trey Hunt going to third. That allowed Hunt to score the first run of the game and the Sea Lions added two more on an RBI-single by Jack Spohn and a sacrifice fly by Tanner Handa.

Burkhead would hit his first homer of the day in the third inning as he drilled a two-out, three-run homer over the right field wall to put Point Loma in front 6-0. Burkhead would tack on a solo home run in the sixth.

"It was a big way for Bryan to break out," said PLNU head coach Joe Schaefer. "He had been struggling the last week or so. I don't know the adjustment he made but he had great at bats today and was seeing the ball much better."

Fresno Pacific mounted a rally in the eighth as they pushed two runners across the plate and had the bases still loaded with one out, but coach Schaefer went to his bullpen for Brett Carlile who worked his way out of the jam and then pitched the ninth to earn his first save of the season after also picking up the win in the series opener.

PLNU was outhit in the game 10-7 but were able to capitalize on the FPU error and the home runs from Burkhead. The Sea Lions left just five runners on base compared to 10 for the Sunbirds. Burkhead also scored three runs to go along with his four RBI. Andy Littlefield also crossed the plate twice.

"It was great to see that performance out of Justin Lawrence today," Schaefer added. "We weren't sure how sharp he would be after sitting out last week, and he struggled early with command today, but he settled down, got comfortable and gave us seven solid innings. I was very pleased with his outing."

Baron Bower and Kyle Coppom each had two hits for Fresno Pacific. Wilson Ashford, who came into the game 5-1 with a 1.83 ERA, took the loss after allowing seven hits and seven runs (six earned) over six innings.

Game 2
Point Loma came back from a 2-0 deficit with four runs in the third ,capped off on a two-run homer by Burkhead, and then held on behind Garret Levsen's third save of the series for a 4-3 victory.

PLNU had four of its seven hits for the game during its four-run, third inning rally. Michael Randel and Mike Marcoux led off the inning with back to back doubles and then Marcoux came into score on an error by the pitcher on a bunt by Marcus Heisner to tie the game at 2-2. Burkhead then deliver a no-doubt homer deep over the right field wall to give the Sea Lions their first lead of the day at 4-2.

Mickey Dunleavy (3-4), who would pick up his third win of the season in the game, pitched into the sixth inning but ran into trouble there as the Sunbirds cut the Sea Lions' lead to one at 4-3 and still had two runners on with one out.

Coach Schaefer then called on closer Garret Levsen for the third time in the series, this time to get the five-out save. Levsen promptly struck out Zac Taylor and then following a walk he got Steven Lozier to pop to third base to end the inning. Levsen followed with a scoreless ninth for his third save of the series. He now leads the PacWest with eight saves.

"Carlile and Levsen have been as shut down as anybody we have," said Schaefer. "It nice to have guys you can depend on late in games to put up zeroes on the scoreboard. It takes a lot of pressure off the offense and the starting pitcher knowing the last two, three or four innings we are going to get zeroes out of those guys. It has been great to see those guys develop that role over the course of the year."

Marcoux reached base in all three plate appearances for PLNU. He was 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and a run scored.

"It has been a long time since we have had a four game sweep in conference," Schaefer said. "To get a sweep against a really good team like Fresno Pacific with their pitching staff was huge for our team. Not just to get the sweep but to play winning baseball on consecutive days which we have struggled with this season.

"We were able to put all three facets of the game together in multiple games this week which lead to the wins," continued Schaefer.

Kenny Overly and Brett Bishop both had three hits for FPU. James Lagorio (1-1) took the loss after allowing all four runs in 4.2 innings.

Next games
Point Loma will try to keep its momentum rolling as it travels to take on another PacWest opponent, Holy Names, starting next Friday in Oakland, Calif.