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

RIVERSIDE, Calif. - California Baptist had walk-off hits in both games of the doubleheader to spoil the regular season finale for the Point Loma baseball team with 4-3 and 6-5 wins on Monday, May 6.

With the losses the Sea Lions end the season at 26-24 and in fourth place in the Pacific West Conference at 22-14. The wins gave Cal Baptist (33-17) a share of the conference title with Grand Canyon. Both teams finished 26-10 in PacWest play.

Game 1
Mickey Dunleavy and the PLNU baseball team looked to be cruising to a win in the opener when they learned the pitfalls that can come from giving a team an extra out in an inning.

With the Sea Lions up 2-1 in the bottom of the seven in this seven inning game, Dunleavy coaxed a grounder to shortstop which looked like it would end the game. However, the PLNU shortstop had trouble handling the ball and the Lancers' runner reached first to extend the game.

The next batter would earn a walk to bring Antonio Chavarria up with two out and two runners on. Dunleavy got ahead of Chavarria with two quick strikes but Chavarria was able to turn on the next pitch and lift it over the right field walk for a three-run homer and a 4-2 Lancers' win.

PLNU had taken the lead on an unearned run in their half of the sixth inning to break a 1-1 tie. Kyle Desimone led off the inning with a single and then promptly stole second base. After two Sea Lion outs a balk got Desimone to third base then he came into score on an error by CBU's shortstop on a Trey Hunt grounder.

The Hunt-Desimone combination was also responsible for the game-tying run in the fourth. Desimone and Tyler Nordgren led off the inning with back-to-back singles and then moved up to second and third on a grounder by Bryan Burkhead. With one out Hunt put the ball in play to the shortstop and Desimone raced home to tie the game at 1-1.

Nordgren had two of the Sea Lions' four hits in the contest. He was the only student-athlete on either team to record a multi-hit game.

Dunleavy (5-6) was the tough luck loser in the game. He gave up six hits and four runs, but just one was earned.

Jon Bengard (11-1) won his PacWest-leading 11th game of the year. He pitched a complete game allowing four hits and two runs (one earned) while walking two and striking out eight.

Game 2
Much like game 1 the Sea Lions had victory in their sites but were unable to get that illusive final out for the win. This time it was a game-tying homer in the seventh and a walk-off homer in the eighth that would lead CBU to a 6-5 win over PLNU in game 2.

Point Loma was up 5-3 entering the last half inning with closer Garret Levsen going back to the mound for his third inning of work. The first batter of singled to right and Blair Moore followed with a two-run homer to knot the game at 5-5.

Zach Esquerra would win the game for the Lancers in the bottom of the eighth on a single to right to score Mark Sanchez.

The Lancers had the chance at the comeback thanks to four innings of scoreless relief from Matt Daugherty (3-2) who earned the win while striking out seven. Chad Etchison (3-3) took the loss for PLNU.

Tanner Handa and Trey Hunt each had two hits for Point Loma. Moore led CBU with three RBI.

Next games
These teams will meet back up in the National Christian College Athletic Association (NCCAA) West Regional Playoffs this Thursday (May 9). The Sea Lions are the No. 4 seed and will travel to play the host and No. 1 seeded Lancers at Noon.