SAN DIEGO - The Point Loma baseball team had its school record 17-game winning streak snapped on Friday, Apr. 17 when they lost both games of a doubleheader to Fresno Pacific, 7-2 and 3-0.
PLNU (30-9) had not lost in over a month (Mar. 12), and had an eight-game winning streak at home against FPU (26-15) coming into the contest. With the combination of the loss and a victory by California Baptist over Azusa Pacific, the Sea Lions are now tied for second place in the PacWest.
Game 1The top of the Sunbirds' lineup fueled FPU to a 7-2 win in the opener. Baron Bower went 2-for-5 with a triple, a homer, three RBI and two runs scored out of the leadoff spot. He put FPU on the board first with an RBI-triple in the third innings and later extended their lead with a two-run homer as part of a four-run seventh inning. The first five batters in the Sunbirds combined to go 9-for-21 with six RBI and five runs scored.
Matt Jervis looked very good for the Sea Lions in the game as he collected a season-best three hits.
Tyler Baker and
AJ Derr also added multi-hit games as each had a pair of hits and a stolen base. One of Derr's two hits was a triple, for the Sea Lions' only extra base hit of the game.
FPU got on the board first with a pair of runs in the third. PLNU answered with an RBI-triple from Derr to drive in Baker and a run-scoring single by
Ryan Garcia to tie the game at 2-2. Fresno Pacific retook the lead with a single run in the fourth and extended it to 7-2 with a four-run seventh.
Wilson Ashford, a PacWest preseason all-conference selection, earned the victory to improve to 7-2. He went six innings, allowing nine hits and two runs while striking out three and walking just two.
Eric Pierce (7-3) took the loss for Point Loma after he was charged with eight hits and five runs in 6.1 innings of work. He struck out two and walked two.
Game 2Drew Merlo (3-1) threw a complete game four-hit shutout against the Sea Lions in the nightcap to lift Fresno Pacific to the 3-0 win. He struck out seven and walked just one to improve to 3-1 on the season.
Kevin Lillicrop (4-4) pitched well in his start for the Sea Lions to keep them in the game. He went the first six innings allowing seven hits and three runs while striking out three.
Garrett Gooding then pitched a scoreless inning of relief and
John Shurance added two more.
Baron Bower once again powered the Sunbirds' offense. He put them on the board in the third with a run scoring double. He finished the game 2-for-3 with a walk and an RBI.
Matt Jervis had a double for the Sea Lions' only extra base hit of the game.
Next gamesPLNU will look to bounce back with a doubleheader tomorrow after losing two straight games at home for the first time this year. First pitch is scheduled for Noon.
