SAN DIEGO - Eric Pierce gave the Sea Lions the start they needed. The sophomore lefty delivered a complete game, giving up just two runs and four hits, while striking out eight on 93 pitches to lead the Point Loma baseball team to a 3-2 win over Cal State San Bernardino on Friday, Feb. 13.
 
Pierce allowed a leadoff single before retiring 14 straight batters to set the tone in the game. The Sea Lions' offense staked him to a 3-0 lead with runs in the first, third and fifth. AJ Derr created the run in the first by singling, stealing second base, taking third on a fly ball and scoring on a wild pitch. Alex Connor grounded out to score Tyler Baker in the third and Devin Carter provided a huge two-out double in the fifth to put PLNU up 3-0.
 
Pierce's shutout was broken up by a leadoff, solo home run by Spencer Bayless in the top of the sixth but he quickly settled down and retired the next six batters in order. In the eighth he was once again touched for a solo home run but it did not faze him as he got out of the inning with the Sea Lions still in front 3-2. The ninth inning was maybe his sharpest of the game as he struck out the first two batters and got a slow roller to first to complete the game.
 
This was the first career shutout for Pierce who is now 2-0 on the season with a 1.93 earned run average and 12 strike outs in 14 innings.
 
Derr, Carter and Preston Sands each had two hits for the Sea Lions. Both of Carter's went for doubles, as six of his 11 hits in a Sea Lion uniform have gone for extra bases.
 
The Sea Lions (5-2) bounced back nicely from their late loss yesterday to get back in the win column. The Coyotes dropped to 2-5 on the season with this non-conference defeat.
 
These teams will continue their series with a doubleheader at San Bernardino on Saturday, Feb. 14 starting at 11:00 a.m.