SAN DIEGO – The Point Loma baseball team got great pitching from both its starters and relievers as it swept a doubleheader from Bethesda on Saturday, Feb. 21. PLNU won the opener 10-0 behind Kevin Lillicrop and the nightcap 2-1 behind Trevor Abshire.
 
This was the sixth straight win for the Sea Lions who improved to 9-2 on the season. The losses drop Bethesda to 6-13.

Game 1 
Kevin Lillicrop (1-1) registered his second career combined shutout and the Sea Lions pounded out 16 hits to defeat Bethesda 10-0 in the opening game.
 
Lillicrop pitched the first five innings allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out six. He then gave way to the Sea Lions' bullpen that went the final four innings without allowing a run, and giving up just one hit, to complete the shutout. Lane O'Dea, Patrick McMullen, Noah Huggins and Garrett Gooding each delivered a scoreless inning of relief with at least one strikeout.
 
"It is all about progress in February," said Point Loma head coach Joe Schaefer, "just getting the opportunity to get back onto the field, making some mistakes, learning from it, and hopefully progress each week. That happened this week with Lillicrop. He gutted it out for five scoreless innings.
"The bullpen continues to be very good," he added. "We need zeroes at the end of games and they are putting them up."
 
Ryan Garcia and Joseph Keller paced PLNU with three hits apiece. Keller was 3-for-5 with two runs scored and two RBI. Garcia was 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored and one RBI. Tyler Baker and Devin Carter also each crossed the plate twice in the Sea Lions' 10-run outburst.
 
PLNU scored two in the first on a two-out rally before breaking the game opening with a five-run third inning. Carter, Keller, Anthony Torres and Connor Larson all knocked in runs in the inning.
 
"First time all year we earned the win," Schaefer explained. "We had good at-bats all game and stayed through the middle of the field. Up to this point we have found ways to score runs based on what other teams gave us but today was the first time we earned it by coming out and hitting the ball. It was exciting to see we are capable of that."
 
Game 2
Tanner Handa's bases loaded single in the sixth finally solved the riddle of Bethesda's unique starting pitcher that throws with both hands to give the Sea Lions a 2-1 win in the nightcap.
 
PLNU had no offense going all game until the fifth inning when Devin Carter was hit by a pitch to lead off the inning and Kellen Sheppard followed with a single. After Torres sacrificed both runners over, Larson chopped the ball to first and Carter was thrown out at home for the second out of the inning.
 
Trey Hunt then drew a four-pitch walk to load the bases for Handa. Handa fell behind in the count 0-2 but drove a pitch back up the middle that snuck under the glove of the second baseman to allow PLNU to take the lead. Both the Sea Lions' hits came in the fifth inning.
 
"We were off-balance all game," Schaefer explained. "It is not often you see a guy switching left hand/right hand throughout the whole game. He was just different and we were off-balance all game. We couldn't make the adjustment until the fifth inning when we hit some balls hard on the ground.
 
"Handa's hit was huge," Schaefer added. "It says a lot about these hitters and this team when they are put on the spot in a key situation and they can come up with a big hit. It is encouraging."
 
Trevor Abshire (2-0) kept PLNU in the game by allowing just one run and three hits over six innings. With the one-run lead heading into the seventh, PLNU went to its closer Coleman Huntley III who struck out the side for his fourth save of the season. 
 
"(Abshire) made one mistake and they hit it hard but he was sharp the rest of the afternoon," Schaefer added. "That team scraps but he pitched very well for six innings and kept them on the ground. He's going to continue to get better because he is mentally tough and works hard. I am glad he is having success now but I am excited to see him get better throughout the year."
 
Esau Madrigal (2-3) was the tough luck loser in the game for Bethesda. He gave up just two hits and two runs to go along with four walks. He also picked off a pair of Sea Lions at first base and helped another get caught stealing. PLNU was hitless against Madrigal for the first four innings.
 
Next games
Point Loma will return to action next Friday when it faces Cal State San Marcos on the road beginning at 11:00 a.m.