SAN DIEGO - It was a perfectly played day for the Point Loma baseball team as the offense, pitching and defense were firing on all three cylinders to pick up 17-2 and 7-1 victories over Holy Names on Friday, Apr. 29.
The Sea Lions are now 26-16 on the season and 15-13 in the PacWest. Holy Names falls to 10-34 (7-23 PacWest).
Game 1
Devin Carter drove in five runs,
Colby Kaneshiro added a career-high four RBI and
Kellen Sheppard allowed just two runs over seven innings to propel Point Loma to a 17-2 win in the opener.
Carter came up big early in the game with a two-run double off the center field wall as part of a four-run first inning for the Sea Lions. PLNU added on another run in the third with a single by
Tanner Handa before breaking the game wide open with a six-run fourth. Kaneshiro had a bases loaded double in the inning and
Mike Gordner also had a three-run homer.
The Sea Lions did not let up on offense in the sixth, adding five more runs. After a two-run double by
Ryan Garcia, Carter drilled a three-run shot over the left field wall to put the Sea Lions up 17-2.
"We got a lot of hits with runners in scoring position which is why we were able to put as many runs on the board as we did," explained Point Loma head coach
Joe Schaefer. "There is a little more pop in the middle of the order than we have had the past couple of years so (the home run ball) is definitely a weapon now that we didn't have before. It is nice because, while you don't want to rely on the home run, guys are coming through with really nice swings with multiple runners on base."
Sheppard (7-4) picked up his seventh win of the season to move into sole possession of fifth place in the PacWest rankings. He went seven innings allowing five hits and two runs while walking one and striking out seven.
"Sheppard did a good job with seven strong innings," said Schaefer. "He beat up the zone and attacked the hitters all game. We played good defense behind him and it was great to see a game with no errors."
Game 2
Mike Gordner's grand slam capped off a five-run first inning for the Sea Lions and they cruised to a 7-1 win.
The rally all started with two out on a single by
Ryan Garcia. After a walk to
Devin Carter and a
Colby Kaneshiro hit by pitch loaded the bases, the most critical play of the game occurred.
Joseph Keller grounded the ball to the shortstop's right and the Hawks' player decided to go to second base for the out. Kaneshiro did not take anything for granted, however, and with his extra lead in the bases loaded situation, he beat out the throw to allow Garcia to score and extend the inning. Gordner just missed a home run down the right field line in the second pitch of the at-bat, but he did not miss that sixth pitch as he drilled it over the center field wall for his first career grand slam.
"We got that big swing from Gordner to kind of break the game open early but the hustle play by
Colby Kaneshiro at second base is what really got everything going," Schaefer explained. "He beat out the throw to second to allow the run to score and extend the inning for Gordner. Without that hustle play this could have been a really tight ballgame. Those hustle plays are the ones that help you beat good teams."
Nathan Bennett pitched five scoreless innings allowing four hits and two runs while striking out four to lower his season earned run average to 2.28. He ranks fifth in the PacWest.
"Bennett is gritty and he competes even on days when he doesn't have his best stuff," Schaefer said. "He did a good job of that today and came through with five scoreless innings. He is a bulldog and it was good to see that performance from him tonight."
Ryan Garcia reached base in all five plate appearances. He accounted for half the Sea Lions' hits as he went 3-for-3 with two walks and a run scored. He added an RBI in the eighth inning, his 53rd of the season to pass Judson Richards and Kurt Steinhauer for sole possession of seventh place on the Sea Lions' single-season RBI list. He is 10 short of tying the single-season record held by Tyler Kuehl (2010) and Zach Robinson (2005).
Next games
These teams will conclude their series with a doubleheader on Saturday (Apr. 30) beginning at Noon.
