AZUSA, Calif. - Junior pitcher Kevin Lillicrop went seven innings allowing four hits and two runs while matching a career-high with eight strike outs in the series finale to lead the Point Loma to a crucial series split at Azusa Pacific. The Cougars won Saturday's opener 8-6 in a game that was a slugfest early, before Point Loma won the nightcap 5-2 in extra innings behind Lillicrop and a late rally.
 
The Sea Lions are now 18-10 on the season and 7-7 in the PacWest. The Cougars moved to 17-16 overall and 13-7 in the PacWest with the split.
 
Game 1
The game was all about the offenses early with the teams combining to score 13 runs in the first four innings, but things settled down when the bullpens entered the game and Azusa Pacific held on for the 8-6 victory.
 
Kellen Sheppard powered the Sea Lions offense by matching his career-high with four RBI. He got the scoring started for Point Loma in the top of the first as he made APU pay for a two-out walk and an error by launching a home run to right.
 
That lead was short-lived as APU answered with one in the first, four in the second and two more in the third to take a 7-4 lead. Harrison Ramey would cut the Cougars' lead to one in the top of the fourth by hitting his first career-home run to drive in two.
 
After the fourth APU went to its bullpen and PLNU threatened only one more time. Kale Morton (2-0) went 3.2 scoreless innings in relief allowing just two hits. Billy Sanford picked up the save by pitching the final 1.1 innings.
 
Trevor Abshire did not pitch as bad as his line indicated as the Sea Lions' defense had errors in two of the four innings in which he allowed runs. He finished his five innings with eight hits and eight runs (six earned) allowed.
 
Game 2
With the Sea Lions needing this game to earn a critical series split on the road, Kevin Lillicrop stepped up with one of his best pitching performances of the year. The junior right-hander pitched seven innings allowing four hits and two runs while walking none and striking out eight.
 
Lillicrop (5-0) put up zeroes on the board the first six innings, with APU putting up only two hits in that time. However, PLNU was not able to break through for a run against the Cougars' starter Dillon Miyashiro until the sixth inning when Ryan Garcia homered to right to lead off the inning. It was his ninth home run of the season.
 
Point Loma added an insurance run in the seventh when senior Joseph Keller singled after an eight-pitch at-bat to drive in pinch runner Preston Sands from second.
 
That extra run driven in by Keller made all the difference as Azusa Pacific finally solved Lillicrop in the seventh inning to score two runs and send the game to extra innings. Pablo O'Connor gave the Cougars their first run with a solo home run to lead off the inning. After a one-out double and a wild pitch, pinch hitter Michael Franco was to drive the ball deep enough to the outfield on a 3-2 count to bring in the tying run.
 
The Sea Lions did not hang their heads for a moment and responded with three hits and six hits in the top of the eighth to retake the lead at 5-2. Sheppard started the scoring with an RBI-single to plate Ryan Garcia who lead off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a single by Devin Carter. Sheppard would cross the plate later in the inning on a passed ball and Tanner Handa capped off the scoring with a sacrifice fly which brought home Michael Gordner.
 
John Shurance took over for Lillicrop in the eight and pitched a perfect inning for his first save of the year.
 
With their outburst in the eighth Point Loma outhit APU in the game 13-4. Ryan Garcia had three hits, an RBI and two runs scored. Kellen Sheppard and Joseph Keller also each had two hits for the Sea Lions. No student-athlete for APU had more than one hit.
 
David May took the loss in relief of Miyashiro after he was charged with all six hit and three runs from the Sea Lions' eighth.
 
Next games
Point Loma will return home to host Dixie State in a four-game series on Apr. 8-9. Dixie State is currently in second place in the PacWest Conference, just one game behind the leader California Baptist.