Point Loma is now 20-10 on the season and 9-7 in the PacWest. Dixie State drops to 28-8 and three games back of first place in the PacWest standings with a 16-6 record.
 
Game 1
Ryan Garcia had his second seven-RBI game of the season and Kellen Sheppard pitched eight innings, allowing just two runs, while striking out five to lead the Sea Lions to an 8-3 win in the opener.
 
Garcia blasted a two-run shot in the first inning that just cleared the right field wall for his 10th home run. He added four more RBIs to his PacWest-lead with a grand slam off Dixie State's No. 1 starter in the second. It was Garcia's third grand slam of the season. He added another RBI on a groundout in the fourth as PLNU went up 7-2.
 
"To strike first in the first inning was big because it got momentum in our favor," said Point Loma head coach Joe Schaefer. "We know we can play well at home, we have been doing it all year, so if we can get that energy early we can build on it the rest of the game. Ryan's two swings did that for us."
 
Sheppard improved to 6-2 on the season. He is tied for third in the PacWest in victories.
 
"Sheppard did a fantastic job today against a really good hitting team. He located, kept the ball down and didn't make many mistakes. He is an intelligent pitcher that can make quality adjustments. He is a competitor, a quiet competitor, but he is a competitor. In that No. 1 rotation spot he has been helping us get an early win in the series."
 
AJ Derr scored three runs out of his leadoff spot as he went 3-for-5 with a double. Devin Carter added an insurance run for Point Loma in the seventh on his seventh home run of the season.
 
Drew McLaughlin collected four of Dixie State's nine hits. He was 4-for-4 with a double and scored once. Dixie State's starter Chance Abrath (2-3) lasted just two innings allowing six hits, six runs (all earned) and three walks.
 
Game 2
Point Loma came from behind with a five-run fifth inning, capped off by a three-run homer from Kellen Sheppard on an 0-2 count to defeat Dixie State 7-5.
 
PLNU went into its half of the fifth trailing 3-1 after the Red Storm hit three solo home runs. With one out, Tanner Handa, AJ Derr, Harrison Ramey and Ryan Garcia all singled in a row to cut the Red Storm's lead to 3-2. After an infield fly, Sheppard stepped to the plate and quickly went down in the count. But he cut down on his swing and was able to barrel the ball up to drive it just over the wall in right center field and put the Sea Lions up 6-3.
 
"That was the big blow that gave us the lead," Schaefer added. "There were some very competitive at-bats before that and Sheppard delivered the big hit when we needed it. That was huge."
 
Patrick McMullen (2-1) picked up the win in relief of Nathan Bennett who was making his first start since joining the rotation. He went 4.1 innings allowing seven hits and three runs while striking out seven and walking two.
 
"It all started with Nate Bennett in his second start of the year," "He wasn't sharp but he is the best competitor we have. What was great about his start is that he missed some spots and gave up a couple big hits, but they were all solo home runs and we can overcome one-run innings. He did a good job preventing an big innings out of their offense and that is what kept us in the game and allowed us to have that big inning later on."
 
The Sea Lions received great performances out of their bullpen from Coleman Huntley III and John Shurance. Huntley went 3.0 innings in relief allowing just two hits and one unearned run. He pitched the Sea Lions out of a big jam in the sixth when he induced a bases loaded double play with one out to keep PLNU in front 6-4.
 
"The biggest bright spot out there today was seeing Coleman Huntley come in and do what he did," said Schaefer. "After struggling the last couple appearances he came in and was outstanding for three innings. He located fastballs over and over again. He was a bulldog for those three innings. That is what got us to the ninth inning."
 
Shurance came in with one on and one out in the ninth and pitched around an error to earn his second save of the season.
 
AJ Derr went 3-for-3 with a walk, a double, two RBI and a run scored out of his leadoff spot. He finished the day by reaching base in seven of his nine plate appearances, including six hits. Sheppard went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. Mike Gordner added a pair of doubles.
 
Drew McLaughlin went 3-for-4 to lead Dixie State which outhit PLNU 13-12. Starter Preston Hannay took the loss after being knocked out in the fifth inning. He finished the game with 4.1 innings pitch, allowing six hits, two walks and four runs.
 
Next games
The teams will play another doubleheader on Saturday, Apr. 9 to close out their four-game series. The start time to the doubleheader has been moved up to 10:00 a.m. due to the threat of rain tomorrow.