SAN DIEGO - Ryan Garcia doubled, homered and scored two runs, and Eric Pierce delivered seven shutout innings to lead the Sea Lions to a 3-0 victory over Cal State LA in Point Loma's home opener.
 
Garcia put PLNU (1-3) on the board with a solo home run in the top of the first. He later fueled the Sea Lions two-run eighth inning by leading off with a double and taking third on an errant throw before adding an insurance run.
 
"That was our momentum," said PLNU head coach Joe Schaefer about Garcia's home run. "We said we have to find a way to score first and get the momentum early. I knew we could win the game if we got that first run on the board and grabbed the momentum. That first inning lead was imperative for us to win the game. That was a big swing by Ryan."
 
That solo shot in the first proved to be all Pierce (1-0) needed in his first start of the season. The junior lefty allowed no run and five hits in seven innings of work. He did not walk anyone and struck out two. He also recorded 12 ground ball outs and only one runner reached third for the Golden Eagles (1-3).
 
"Eric Pierce was outstanding for us today," said Schaefer. "It all started with him putting up a 'zero' in the first inning. We hadn't done that all year, and that isn't the way we want to play. We want to get that 'zero' in the first and be the team that strikes first. Pierce did an outstanding job to give us that opportunity and pitch really well in a close game."
 
Patrick McMullen and Coleman Huntley III added a scoreless inning apiece out of the bullpen to combine on the shutout. This was Huntley's first save of the season.
 
Garcia finished the game 2-for-4 with a double, a home run and two runs scored. Devin Carter was 2-for-3 with a run scored and two stolen bases. Harrison Ramey had an outstanding home debut as he reached base in all three of his plate appearances. He was 2-for-2 with two doubles and a walk.
 
Dakota Johnson had three of the five hits for the Golden Eagles. All three were singles.
 
These teams will continue their series with a single game at PLNU on Friday, Feb. 12 at 2:00 p.m., and a doubleheader at Cal State LA on Saturday, Feb. 13 starting at 1:00 p.m.